#trying to get tup and fives out of kamino and bring them to jedi so they could be take care of therefore using the word republic property i

[mwolf0epsilon]

The other day I was looking at some screenshots from the Umbara Arc because I was trying to get a lay of the land, so to speak, as I wanted to write about Lich's experiences prior to finding his way back to a now fallen Republic and rising Empire... And three specific frames caught my attention due to very small details.

The first one is when Krell threatens Fives with his lightsaber.

Lightsabers are plasma conduits. They can slice and cauterise at the same time. Using them to threaten someone into compliance like this is a promise to use them rather than a bluff.

Even with his armour on, Fives can likely feel the heat of the blade against his neck and shoulder. This is more than enough reason to go from mild apprehension around Krell to full on distrusting him, because the clones know the Jedi only use their lightsabers when they need to. And only against what they perceive as hostiles that are unwilling to negotiate surrender.

Krell using his lightsaber to threaten someone was an immediate red flag, and Fives knew it.

The second screenshot that caught my attention was when Rex was holding Krell at gunpoint to execute him.

I was wondering why Dogma could swipe Fives's blaster so easily and then, when looking at this frame, I realised all eyes were on Krell's back. All eyes but Dogma's... Who was instead watching Rex like a hawk.

It dawned on me that Fives getting finessed wasn't the most interesting part of this scene, because at this point even a toddler could have taken his blaster without him noticing. It was the fact Dogma could see that Rex was hesitating while everyone else was just watching Krell with growing contempt, rather than realising their captain was struggling to do what he'd set out to do.

Dogma's decision to shoot Krell wasn't a spur of the moment thing. It was something he felt like he had to do because no one else could have done it. Because if Rex couldn't, then he very likely doubted the others could either... And I think Dogma didn't want them to. I think he was very aware of the consequences that would follow.

Which brings us to the last screenshot.

Fives's and Dogma are very different characters in terms of how they conduct themselves and how they emote.

Fives has no reservations when it comes to expressing his feelings. He's comfortable in his skin, knows what he's about, and even feels comfortable enough to raise his concerns or even joke with his superiors (this man pulled a dick joke on his Jedi General, that's just ballsy).

Dogma is the opposite. He's wound tight (like Rex had commented in a prior conversation with Anakin), is still very much the standard model soldier that was just recently shipped out of Kamino, and is even unwilling to rest unless ordered to do so. Dogma is Shiny without being Shiny.

Throughout the entire Umbara Arc, Dogma's had this steely angry look to him that feels more like a poker face than anything else. There's only two times where we see him pull a softer expression. The scene in the barracks where he's talking with Tup, and this one where he looks stricken.

Fives on the other hand never hid what he felt. He's one of the most expressive clones and the Umbara Arc accentuates this. This scene proves this because where he'd been upset at Dogma for a great majority of this story arc, Fives is suddenly confronted with this scenario. And it probably finally dawns on him that he didn't have all the pieces when it came to figuring out Dogma's motives (or maybe it occurs to him what killing a Jedi would have meant for Rex, and that out of all the clones in that room Dogma was likely the one who was most aware of what would come next because he's a stiff stickler for the rules and he'd tried to stop them mutinying before).

This entire arc is a great character study for the clones in general, but I think the ones that stand out more are definitely Fives and Dogma when faced with loyalty to the republic vs loyalty to their brothers.

[laciefuyu]

the way some of you like to ignoring context in canon to force your own logic why jedi is bad is insane lol

[elendiliel]

A Life Laid Down

As semi-promised, this is the follow-up to Counter-Conspiracy. This AU is getting out of control...

---

Are you sure you’re all right with this, vod’ika?, Hel sent to Fives. He knew why she was concerned for him. They had weathered dozens of storms together, but never one quite like this.

As close as I can get, he sent back. There was never any point in lying to her, even aloud, let alone telepathically. And the longer we wait, the more chance he has to make the first move.

Hel conceded that. Their opponent was perhaps the most cunning person they had ever encountered, and possibly the most dangerous. At least they weren’t alone. They were part of a delegation that also included Jedi Masters Windu, Fisto, Tiin and Kolar, all formidable fighters and Force users. All the same, Fives would have preferred Hel to be right by his side, not trailing behind, wearing the too-neutral bearing and expression he had first seen in the aftermath of their first mission together, and later after the Citadel. She was pretending to grieve – for him.

Fives was grateful for his new, unpainted bucket and shell as they passed through Commander Fox’s office. And for the fact that he didn’t have to fake the upright posture of a shiny fresh from Kamino – his chest still ached where he’d been shot, technically by Fox (although he knew who had guided his brother’s hand, and put the blame firmly where it belonged), and he was still a bit stiff from spending too long in that bacta tank. Full recovery would take a while longer, but it would happen – eventually. If I survive this mission.

Fox buzzed them through to the Chancellor’s office once he’d checked that they did indeed have an appointment (he’s made a vod his secretary? That’s just wrong). The man himself swept forward to greet them, all deceptive charm. “Gentlemen, my dear,” Fives could picture Hel’s fingers tightening on her arm behind her back; she hated being patronised, “what can I do for you?”

“We were hoping you could clear a few things up for us.” Windu’s calm delivery was a perfect example of control as he laid out all the tiny scraps of evidence that had been gathered since Fives’ first meeting with the Jedi Council. Every little discrepancy, every unexplained trip off-world, every unusual transmission. Alone, they wouldn’t arouse suspicion, but taken together…

Fives had had the biggest shock of his life when he’d woken up in the Temple med-bay after being shot. He’d known that that wound had been fatal; he’d been ready to die, to be with his batchers, Hardcase and Tup again. To be free at last. But General Skywalker had had other ideas, apparently, as Hel had quickly explained. (The two Jedi had taken it in turns to watch over him; Rex, Torrent and Spark would, ironically, have been more easily missed.) The General had kept him alive long enough to get him to proper healers, who, as well as fixing the damage to his chest, had found and investigated Rex’s inhibitor chip by careful comparison of the two men’s brain scans, confirming that it wasn’t just there to curb the clones’ aggressive tendencies, as the Kaminoans claimed. They had even found traces of the drugs Doctor Se had given Fives in a routine blood test, and deduced the time-frame of their administration from a second sample taken an hour later. (Fives didn’t quite follow all the technicalities, though Kix would have gone into minute detail given half a chance.) The drugs – some of them only available on Kamino – had merely altered his ability to communicate, not his overall cognitive abilities. In other words, he hadn’t been delusional. Only incoherent.

That had helped to convince the Jedi Council of Palpatine’s treachery once Fives was strong enough to talk to them, as had Hel pulling some strings and bringing in a Bene Gesserit truthsayer, one who could distinguish the genuine truth from honest mistakes. It all made so much sense in hindsight. Why else would the Separatists be trying to claim so much territory, rather than simply seceding from the Republic? How else could they know so much? And what better way to blind the Jedi than to convince them that becoming military officers – the opposite of what they should be – was their least bad option? (That had backfired, at least. Fives didn’t know a single clone who wasn’t grateful for the Jedi’s leadership, their compassion, their insistence on treating their subordinates with respect, encouraging their creativity and individuality. Would he have discovered the conspiracy, or managed to escape and warn his superiors, had he had a non-Jedi commander?)

Carefully, very carefully, the Council and selected other Jedi and clones had gathered evidence against the Chancellor that didn’t rely on Fives’ testimony. Information from Hel’s old friend Madam Jocasta in the Jedi Archives, from Jedi investigators, from databases sliced into by Spark – even from the General’s friends in the Senate (well, one friend in particular, and her network of friends and allies) – it was enough to justify this official meeting. Just to clarify certain matters…

Fives had heard of General Windu’s incredible combat skills, but here he was giving a masterclass in the use of a Jedi’s primary weapon – words. Every point he raised was carefully phrased, never an accusation, but giving Palpatine barely enough room to explain himself without self-incrimination. And this was Windu holding back, Fives was sure. Had he wanted to trap Palpatine, he could have done so easily. As it was, the Chancellor wriggled out of everything, the faint air of smugness Fives could just sense around him growing stronger with every evasion, every believable lie. As intended.

“Is that all, Master Windu?,” Palpatine asked at last, when the Jedi Master seemed to have run out of things to say.

“Not quite. But the last question should really be asked by someone else.” Windu gestured for Fives to come forward, startling the Chancellor, who probably hadn’t even noticed him before. Fives took a mental deep breath, grateful for Hel’s strengthening presence, and removed his helmet, tilting his head to make sure Palpatine saw his tattoo. He would forever treasure the moment of open shock displayed on the aruetii’s face, his wide eyes and sharp gasp. “You.”

“Me,” Fives confirmed. “We clones aren’t as easy to kill as you think. And I’ve told the Council everything you told me. You said nobody would believe me, but they did. Can you explain what you said, or what I’m sure you did to my brothers and had done to me – sir?”

“Of course I can.” The mask was just starting to slip, Fives thought. But he wasn’t prepared for what happened next, not least because it happened so fast. One moment Palpatine’s hands were moving casually towards his hips; the next, a desperate cry of “No!” split the still air, and the sound and scent of a lightsabre piercing flesh transported Fives back to the darkness and horror of Umbara. But the victim this time wasn’t a brother; it was a sister, and the sabre transfixing Hel’s chest was red, not blue or green. Palpatine was more than a simple traitor, then.

For the second time in as many minutes, the Chancellor failed to hide his surprise when he withdrew the blade and Hel somehow stayed on her feet. (So did General Fisto, clearly the intended target; Hel had shoved him out of the way just in time.) “Missed my heart… darjetii.” Her voice was rough, pained, but she had enough strength and speed left to wrench the Sith’s lightsabre from him before even he could react. The casing shattered in her powerful hands as she earthed a sudden surge of fury before it could damage anything important.

All pretence of civility gone, Palpatine tried to rally, raising a hand to unleash some new Sith trick, but he’d lost the advantage of surprise. Fives, shaking off the images of Umbara, was on him in a second, forcing him to his knees with the offending arm held behind his back and Fives’ own hand clamped over his mouth. Darjetiise were probably just as dangerous as jetiise where words were concerned. General Kolar was just as quick in assisting him, fitting a pair of binders on the still-struggling man’s wrists, as General Windu made the formal arrest and General Tiin summoned Commander Fox to take charge of their captive.

Then all other thoughts were driven out of Fives’ head as Hel, her reserve fuel finally exhausted, suddenly folded up, even her usual grace deserting her. He was at her side in a heartbeat, ignoring Palpatine being sedated and General Fisto explaining the situation to a bewildered Fox. The Sith might have missed her heart, but she was still badly injured; he could see the carpet through the neat hole in her chest, and her breath came in short, sharp gasps that hurt to hear. Every exhale forced more blood out of her mouth, not the decorous trickle you might see in a holofilm but a full stream. No, please, not her, not on top of everything else, she can’t die now…

“There’s still hope.” General Windu’s voice was low and soft, holding more kindness than Fives had ever heard from him. Fives met his eyes – the General was now kneeling on Hel’s other side – and saw the compassion and love the Jedi Master usually kept out of sight. And a flicker of resignation and exasperation that might as well have been a sigh and a “Nothing for it.” The General activated his comm. “Skywalker, we need medevac, direct from the Chancellor’s office. As fast as you can.”

There was hope, Fives knew even as Hel’s life force continued to ebb away. If anyone could get her to the Temple med-bay in time, General Skywalker could. And if anyone could hold on to life longer than they should, Hel could. Love had made her lay down her life, but love could make her pick it up again. She still had work to do.

---

Mando’a glossary:

Vod(’ika): (dear) brother(/sister).

Aruetii: traitor, enemy(, foreigner).

Darjetii(se): Sith (singular/plural).

Jetiise: Jedi (plural).

[ct7567329]

One Day: Fives x Reader

"Hey," you whispered, taking a seat next to your favorite ARC trooper. Things have been off lately in the 501st. Ahsoka's been gone for a while now and the boys are finally starting to pick up their momentum again. Losing their little sister wasn't easy for any of them. Today was one of the few days the 501st got a break. Just as you expected, Fives was awake before the break of dawn, waiting for the sun to rise over the Naboo country side. Having a day off on Naboo was a favorite among the boys, as it was much more laid back than Coruscant, though unfortunately, the break would soon be over and they would be shipped out later that morning.

Fives looked up at you, his legs dangling off a valley cliff facing westward. Seeing you brought a smile to his face, but he remained silent as you sat down next to him. The moment you hit the ground, your shoulder was met with his arm and the side of his head rested against yours. He closed his eyes a took a deep breath. For once, you sensed tranquility in him.

"I think we can end it," he finally spoke, his head still pressed against yours.

"End what?"

"The war. Ringo Vinda would be a huge step in the right direction and-"

You pushed your index finger against his mouth and softly shook your head, "Remember what I told you. We must take things as they come. If we shoot that high, it will only hurt if we don't achieve."

Fives closed his eyes and nodded, placing his head back where it was, "The last time I shot high, I ended up exceeding my goals," he chuckled, pressing a kiss into your cheek, "I wanted to go on a date with my General and now she's my girlfriend!"

You rolled your eyes and smiled, "Once again, the ARC outplays the Jedi."

Fives mumbled incoherently into your shoulder as his playfully pulled your body onto the ground, allowing you to lay on top of him. You hummed, letting him know you had no idea what he just said.

"Would shooting for making my general mine forever be too high of a shot?" He asked, tilting his head towards yours.

His beautiful honey brown eyes met yours and you shrugged at his question.

"I think it's worth the shot," he smiled, reaching down into his holster, "what do you say?"

You looked at him baffled for a moment before breaking eye contact and looking at the ring between his fingers. Quickly, you sat up and gasped, "Shut up."

"I'm being serious, (Y/N)."

"Fives," your voice cracked, a few tears beginning to well in your eyes. You couldn't get out any other words. You nodded rapidly at him, prompting your favorite smile. He slowly placed the ring on your finger.

"I know you always say day by day, but I don't want a day without you. Ever."

You held your hand up and admired the ring, wondering how he got enough money together for something so beautiful. The glow of the rising sun made the ring sparkle. "You did an amazing job with it," you smiled, your gaze still locked on the ring, "I just wish we could have an engagement-moon!"

Fives chuckled and puller you closer to him, "We'll get one. Someday."

You two spend the last moments of peace together watching the final minutes of the sunrise. Everything was perfect.

Before you knew it you were on a transport to Ringo Vinda with the men of the 501st. The Republic needed extra assistance on the planetary wide space station, so who else would they call besides the "elite" clone company. Fives took his helmet off and exhaled, giving you a soft grin. You looked around at the other men and noticed Tup frantically tapping his foot.

"Everything alright, Tup?" you asked, knowing damn well he wasn't one to be too on edge over a simple battle.

"Just jittery, sir," he quickly responded, diverting his attention away from you. You looked at Fives and shrugged.

The rest of the transport ride was spend sitting in a narrow hallway with the legion, sitting across from Fives. You both had your legs extended, pushing your feet together playfully.

"Ready boys?" Anakin asked as the ship landed on the top of the space station.

You winked at Fives, something you always do before a battle before hopping out of the ship.

In typical 501st fashion, you all had control of another command center soon after arrival. All in all, you were enjoying this battle. There were minimal casualties and you got to fight along side other legions and Jedi Generals.

You, Anakin, and the twin Generals, Tiplar and Tiplee, gathered in the center of the room to discuss the take over of the central command center. The plan seemed pretty straight foward, just a typical attack from all angles alone then together strategy. With all the different corridors though, this meant sperating the 501st into three groups.

"We could put Fives in command of the best troops in the legion. I'll take Appo and you can take Rex. It would be solid group split," you suggested, hating the fact that ultimately, for victory you needed to be separated from Fives for a braid moment.

"I agree," Anakin nodded, "Let's get to it. I'll let Fives know."

Putting the mission at hand in front of your attachment, you led your men towards the east corridor and began the task at hand.

"Oh maker," you mumbled as you reached central commend. Thousands of driods surrounded the Sepertist general.

"Where is everyone else?!" Appo yelled through his comlink, startling you.

As if it was on que, Anakin's and Fives' groups entered the hangar, pushing through the droids like knives through warm butter.

Appo led the men into the heat of battle as you fought your way towards Fives.

"Has any one ever told you that you're the most fantastic ARC this army's ever seen?" You smiled, deflecting blasts away from Fives.

"Well," he dodged a blast and shot down a droid, "this gorgeous Jedi tells me that all the time."

An explosion stopped you before you could respond. "I'm gonna go help them," you groaned, rushing away from Fives' side. On your way to aid the struggling men, you noticed Tup standing in the middle of the battle field, frozen. "C'mon Tup!" You yelled as you ran past him.

Fives turned his head to your direction to make sure you made it to the other side safely when he saw the unthinkable. "Tup!" he screamed as he watched his brother shoot down General Tiplar, then point his blaster towards you. "Tup, stop" he screamed louder, lunging towards him as he managed to get one blast right into your shoulder.

You muttered an explicit then turned around, seeing Fives laying on top of Tup and not too far away, Tiplar's body.

"What the kriff?!" you spit through your teeth with venom, wincing at the pain in your shoulder.

Before you could get an explanation on what happened, Anakin commanded retreat and everyone fell back into that command room you gained control of previously.

After settling Tup with Kix and Rex, Fives rushed to your side and knelt down next to the step you were sitting on, "Are you okay?"

"You were in charge of him, Fives!" you whined moving your body slowly away from his.

Fives glanced up to make sure there wasn't anyone near you, "Cyare, I'm going to get to the bottom of this. You're not in too much pain, right?"

You shook your head,  "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay and just as confused as you are," he placed his hands on your thigh and tapped, "He's a good friend of both of us. We'll figure this out." He got up and went back over to Fives to check on Tup.  You grinned as you watched him walk away. Every time you see him in his full ARC armor, you notice he walks with more confidence, which you find beyond attractive. Once he was out of your line of sight, you closed your eyes to do some quick meditation, thinking maybe the force could guide you through Tup.

Internal Conflict, huh, you thought to your self, wondering what could have caused it. Without thinking, you walked up to the room where Tup was being held.

"Tup, has everything been al-"

You were cut off by Tup lunging at you, yelling inaudibly. Fives quickly sprung between you and Tup to protect you and pushed Tup onto the ground. Your lover turned around, with worry in his eyes. Still shocked with what happened, you retreated back into the command room, asking for Kix to come with.

"You need to bring him to the Jedi Council," you explained to Kix, "unless you can find something that's wrong."

Kix scrunched his forehead, "I'm not sure General. They don't train you for something like this. Maybe a trip to Kamino might be a better idea. Besides, they know clone anatomy better than anyone."

"That works, but (Y/N), we need to get you to the Jedi Council," Anakin butted in. He stopped you before you could give a reason not to, "We can't let that get infected."

"I am just as much as general here as you are!"

"The 501st is going to be on leave after this battle. You won't be without us long!" Fives chimed in, giving  you a wink, "what boys? We have maybe two more rotations left  on this piece of junk!"

After enough begging, you finally complied...until you noticed Appo was escorting you to your ship. "I thought Fives was escorting me back to Coruscant," you noted, stopping in your tracks.

"I'm sorry, General. But Fives was ordered to return to Kamino with Tup."

You pressed your lips together, "Oh! Well I forgot to give him his blaster back! I'll be right back!"

Appo looked at you confused, "General, what blaster?"

"Yes," you nodded, rushing back to the command room. You made you way to Fives and  pulled him out of the room, trying to keep your action on the down low.

"I know, I know. I wanted to escort you but-" you cut him off with a kiss, moving your hands up the back of his head and softly tugging at his hair. His hands rested on your hips, pulling you closer to him. You pulled back slightly.

"Please stay safe," you murmured, giving him a gentle kiss.

He trailed his kisses across your cheek and stopped at your ear and whispered, "Anything for you cyare."

You pulled him in for a passionate hug, "I need to get going."

"Hey, you need to be safe too. That was a pretty damn good kiss, better not be the last!"

"Fives," you sighed, "Don't say that."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

As you walked away to the ship, you glanced back at Fives, assuring yourself that it would be okay. Right now, the only thing you wanted was for your arm to heal for you could get back to the battlefield with Fives. But in that moment, the best thing you could look forward too is sleeping in your Jedi Temple quarters again.

The next morning, you woke up and immediately looked at your holopad, hoping to see a new message from Fives. Nothing. Only a message from Jesse, asking if you would like to join the boys at 79's that night.

"Guess Ringo Vinda ended sooner than I thought," you thought to yourself, getting ready for the day.

Once nightfall hit, you began to get ready for a night of fun. As you put the finishing touches on your makeup, there was a knock of panic on your quarters door. It was Anakin.

"Have you heard from Fives?!" He said in a rush, bursting into your room with Rex.

You gave them a confused look, "I actually haven't. Figured he was exhausted from the mission.  Is everything alright?"

Anakin stopped, "You haven't heard anything?"

"Guys, what's going on?" You asked, concern in your voice.

"Sit down," Anakin sighed sitting on the edge of your bed, "look, Rex and I know about you and Fives. We think you can help."

"Help with what?"

Anakin and Rex looked at each other, then at you, "Fives tried to kill the chancellor and he's on the run. We think maybe you can talk to him."

You looked at them in shock, "you can't be right."

~

"She was supposed to be here already," Jesse noted, taking another sip of his drink.

"I'm okay with that. Gives us more time to think of what we are going to tell her," Kix replied, "besides, she won't believe us."

Jesse chuckled, "that would be a first."

"Anyway, I'm going to head to the 'fresher. I don't care if she has the hots for Fives, I still need to look presentable in front of her!"

"Keep dreaming," Jesse snorted, taking another sip of his drink.

Kix rolled his eyes and made his way to the refresher.  Just as he began to check for any imperfections, the door opened.

"Looks like the 501st is back on Coruscant," the clone said, approaching.

"Yeah, the craziest thing happened on Ringo Vinda," Kix responded, turning to face to clone.

"I know," he mumbled, taking off his hat, revealing his identity.

"Fives?!"

~

"I'm so sorry Kix," you sighed, "I was almost ready to go but something came up with Fives and i-"

"I know. I'm sending over coordinates right now.  He wants you to meet him there," Kix informed you, sending over the coordinates.

"Thank you Kix," you softly smiled into the comlink after turning it off. You turned to head out of the crowded bar but stopped, looking back at Kix. He looked at you with sympathy, yet you could sense his hurt. Fives was hurting, hurting enough to effect his closest brothers.

"Good luck," he mouthed out before motioning you off.

You gave him a half assed smile and took off, desperate to find your lover. On the way to the coordinates, your mind was blank. Not a single thought racing. That was the only way you could get through this confusing nightmare.

The coordinates weren't anything much. Just an old abandoned hangar in the lower levels. With some hesitation, you leaped off your speeder and entered the hangar. Though you couldn't see him, you sensed his presence.

"Fives?" You called out, slowly making your way deeper into the hanger.

"Oh cyare," he sighed behind you, throwing his body into yours. He deepened the embrace and nuzzled his head into your neck, "please believe me."

"Of course I trust you, love," you whispered, running your fingers down his spine. You frowned slightly at the sight of his missing hair. There had to be a story behind it, but you didn't want to probe. Becides, hair grows back. "Fives, what happened?"

He struggled to get words out without weeping, "can we go find some cheap motel to lay down and talk. I just want to hold you close, lay under blankets and explain everything. I'd feel safer there, I'd-"

You pressed two fingers against his lips, "anything you need, we'll make it happen. I promi-"

"FIVES! Let her go!" Screamed Anakin from across the room, Rex accompanying him.

Anakin used the force to rip you out of Fives' arms and towards him. "Fives, how can we trust you alone with her after what you did."

"Anakin!" You yelled, slapping his hand and rushing towards Fives. Anakin couldn't let that happen. He scrambled to the closest control panel and activated a ray shield, making it impossible to reach Fives. "Fives, explain yourself." Anakin demanded, getting a look of rage from you.

"There's a big plan!" Fives began to rant, "A plan to kill the Jedi! It's in the mind of every clone! The chancellor told me. This is bigger than anyone could imagine. You've got to believe me!"

"Fives, why try to assassinate the chancellor?" Anakin asked as calm as possible, ignoring your attempts to break free of the ray sheild.

Before he could explain himself, Commander Fox and his battalion barged into the hangar, weapons drawn. "Surrender Fives!" Fox yelled, getting closer to Fives.

"No no no!" Fives screamed, holding up the pistol he managed to sneak off your belt while he was hugging you.

"FIVES PUT IT DOWN!" You yelled at the top of your lungs, fearing the worst.

Fives looked at you, then back at Fox, then back at you, but it was too late. As his eyes made contact with you again, a single shot went straight into his chest. The pistol dropped to the floor, and not long after Fives.

You screamed his name in agony as Rex and Anakin rushed to his side. Rex cradled Fives as you watched in horror behind the ray shield.

"Get her out of there," Anakin commanded to Fox.

As Fox shot your ray shield down, Fives looked up at Rex, gasping for air, but managed to get out, "Take care of her for me. Please."

The second you were free from the shield, you ran to your lovers limp body. Rex quickly handed him over to you. Tears trickled from your face as you began to stroke his cheek.

"Fives, Fives, listen to me," you struggled to get out. "Hang in there, you're going to be okay. We're going to be okay." You held up your hand with the engagement ring. "See, we're going to have our someday, together. And that someday is super soon and, and, and." You kept rapid firing anything you think could spark live in him, but you knew he was too far gone. You watched a few tears slowly make their way down his face.

With every last bit of energy he had left in him, he softy squeezed your hand, "I love you." he whispered, before fading away.

"No. No. No. Fives Fives," you gasped, shaking his body, "no no don't leave me don't leave me."

"(Y/N)," Anakin sighed behind you.

You closed your eyes, rested your head on your lovers dead chest, and began to bawl in true pain.

Rex took a knee besides you and slowing began to rub your back, making sure he does everything he can to fulfill the promise he made his best friend.

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[star-ting-over]

Fic : A night on the Resolute

The wounds from Umbara were still fresh, and Rex wasn’t going to get any sleep. Instead, he paces the halls and finds everything, and nothing has changed.

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Dogma was snoring again. Rex glanced over at his brother, face down, passed out from exhaustion on the sparing floor matt that was serving as his bed against the wall of Rex’s cabin. Dogma didn’t sleep much these days, but when he did, he snored. Like a Gundark with a sinus infection. Rex honesty wasn’t aware that a trooper could make a noise like that before Dogma had taken up residence on his floor. Rex didn’t think Jesse would follow through with his half-hysterical threat of stabbing Dogma in his sleep, but he had the younger clone bunking with him just in case. If anything, it prevented another fight in the barracks, Tup apparently more than willing to jump to Dogma defence with his fists at the slightest provocation. There was an angry, aggressive streak in Tup that hadn’t been there before Umbara. Or maybe it had, and Rex just hadn’t noticed.

Rex dug the heels of his hand into his eyes as he sat up. He wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight. Swinging he feet over the side of his bunk, he rose as silently as he could so as not to wake his sleeping brother and headed for the door. Stepping out into the corridor, more people were milling around than he would have expected. Then again no one on the Resolute was getting much sleep at the moment and clones, by nature or by training, did not like to spend much time sitting still. Rex paused briefly to consider what his men might make of their captain pacing the halls in the dead of night in nothing but his blacks before quickly deciding that he couldn’t bring himself to care.

His first port of call was the med bay. It was trip Rex made after every campaign, but there was always something jarring about how the casualty numbers matched up with the brother on the beds. 300 injured didn’t seem real until you saw your men lined up on gurneys against the wall waiting for the medics to clear a bed for them. Kix always complained, with Rex privately agreeing, that if it were up to him, every member of GAR command should be dragged into the Medbay after a hard campaign to tell the medics and injured brother to their faces that a Venator, with a complement of 3,000 only needed 40 bacta tanks. If General Kenobi had managed to source 30 extra each for The Negotiator and The Resolute, Rex wouldn’t mention it.

Umbara had, by all metrics, been a hard campaign. Kix’s tired face and tight smile gave him all the information he needed to know. It could have been a lot worse, but it was worse than they could have imagined. Glancing over at the rows of occupied beds, his eye was drawn to Skipper, the lightsabre burns across his chest that should have killed him and the look in his eyes that said it might as well have done. That was enough of the Med bay for one night.

Back out in the corridor, Rex decided that if he weren’t going to sleep, he could a least be somewhat productive. As with any catastrophic, traumatising incident, Umbra had generated a lot of paperwork, most of which Rex had neglected to deal with partly out of spite but mostly out of exhaustion. No one had chased him for it yet, but it was only a matter of time. It wasn’t going to complete itself, so Rex headed towards mission control.

Expecting to find the room empty, be paused in the doorway at the sight of General Skywalker stood in front of the holo-transmitter, the flickering blue backs of General Windu and General Kenobi between them. Rex was all for turning and leaving, but General Skywalker had seen him, a subtle beckon dragging Rex into the room. Rex loitered just out of the holo-projector range as his General said his goodbye to the two Masters. He didn’t need to be a Jedi to sense the sombre mood that the conversation had left in the room; he could guess what they had been discussing. How many times had Rex stood in this spot late at night, listening to the best-laid plans of the Jedi? Old wisdom said that no plan withstood contact with the enemy and that was true even for Jedi, but until recently Rex had never had any reason to doubt that the General’s plan, any General’s plan, was the best one available. But now it was like a shadow had been thrown over everything. It wasn’t fair; Rex knew that. General Skywalker may be reckless, but he wasn’t malicious, he didn’t lead his men to their deaths deliberately.

As the projector shut off, the General turned to him. The flicker of the generals’ eyes made Rex suddenly very aware that he wasn’t in his armour. He suddenly felt vulnerable, exposed. He had never felt this way before, but it wasn’t hard to figure out what had changed. Up until very recently, Rex hadn’t had a reason to feel vulnerable in the presence of a Jedi. Something in General Skywalers expression closed off, and Rex wondered precisely how much of what he felt was being communicated through the force.

“How’s Jesse doing?” the General changed the topic of a conversation they weren’t even having.

Jesse had held it together well on Umbara, as calm and competent as always, but almost as soon as he set foot on the Resolute, it was like it caught up to him at once. Rex wouldn’t call it a breakdown. Clones didn’t have break downs. Right? Right. Rex wasn’t sure what he would call it. He wouldn’t sleep, he wouldn’t eat. His hands shook so hard Rex wasn’t sure he could still hold a blaster. Kix said he was having nightmares about the firing squad. Nearly being executed was bound to mess you up. It had messed Jesse up at least, Fives seemed fine, at least as far as Rex could see.

Kix was doing his best to help Jesse where he could. The seemed that it was the sight of Dogma seemed to be what set him off more than anything, and it wasn’t like Rex didn’t understand why. Everyone understood why. Even Dogma who since his rather miraculous, if temporary, reprieve had turned out to be surprisingly good at making himself scarce at least until it came time to sleep. He hadn’t even taken four steps into the barracks, a full hour after lights out, before trouble had reared its head. In the interests of a concise incident report, it was summarised as Jesse had lost it on Dogma, Tups had swung at Jesse, Fives tackled Tup, Kix had set Jesse’s broken nose and Rex had one more headache to contend with. Rex didn’t see any need to mention the tears that had streamed down Jesse’s face, the calm oddly detached look on Dogma’s face as Jesse threatened to kill him or the feral, deranged glint in Tups eyes as Fives pinned him down.  

“Getting there, sir” Rex had no idea if that was true. He and never seen anything like this before. The General nodded, face grim. He opened his mouth to say something before thinking better of it and turned towards the monitor against the far wall. Whatever he was about to say, he didn’t want to be looking at Rex for.

“The trooper who shot Krell…” Rex suppressed a wince. He didn’t like hearing that name in his own mind.

“Dogma” Rex interjected quickly. It might have come out a little sharper than he intended.

“Right, Dogma,” Skywalker gave him a long look out of the corner of his eye. “Dogma has been summoned by the Jedi Council for questioning as soon as we arrive” Rex felt something that might have been fear, bubbling up, but it was quickly replaced by rage. He swallowed that impulse down. He knew this would be coming; after all, it had been a condition of Dogma’s temporary release. Raging wasn’t going to help his brother. He hadn’t been quick enough it would seem as he watched General Skywalker’s eyes narrow.

“He shot a Jedi Rex.”

“With all due respect sir, he shot a traitor.” The General sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“It's out of our hands, Rex. We could stop him from being shipped back to Kamino, but there is nothing more I can do.” What you be doing if it was me, that was being hauled in front of the council? Rex wanted to ask but couldn’t bring himself to utter the words.

“Get some rest.” General Skywalker uttered those words without a hint of irony. It was a dismissal if ever Rex had heard one. There was a part of Rex what wanted to replay with a ‘Thank you, sir, I’m fine’ but was sure the phrase would go straight over the Generals head. Rex turned on his heels and headed for the door.

“Rex, let… er.. let the trooper know what's going on.” Rex turned, giving a quick nod and headed through the door. Rex knew that rest wasn’t an option, so he decided upon a different course of action. The ship's gym should be relatively empty, especially as most would be too tired from the recent campaign to feel the need to exercise. And if it just happened to be the furthest thing from rest, well that was just a coincidence.

Typically the gym was nowhere near as empty as Rex would have liked. More than a few pairs of brother were having a spar on the mats. There were a few spare treadmills along the left wall, but it was the punching bags in the back corner that Rex was after. One was already in use. Tups bun made him easy to spot from behind. Rex wasn’t sure the younger trooper even notice his presence as he approached. Rex decided not to disturb him; he looked like he was… working through some stuff.

Taking the bag farthest away from Tup, Rex when through his pre-workout stretches on autopilot before sinking his fist into the bag. He had hoped punching something would help focus his mind, but it didn't seem to be working. His conversation with the General had rattled him. A deluge of hows and whys and what-ifs that he had been desperately trying to hold back broke free.

It all came back to one thing. It should have been him that pulled the trigger. It was his call, his duty to his brothers and the Republic, he should be the one to bear the consequences of the decision. Whatever they would be. They had put Dogma back into his cell after shooting the General, after Fives had retrieved his pistol from Dogma’s limp hands. He had sat stock still for hours, just staring unblinkingly at the Jedi’s body left to go cold one cell over. Kenobi’s arrival, Rex’s desperate pleas to Cody, Cody’s appeal to his General and Skywalkers obstinate instance ensured that Dogma would face Jedi justice and not a sham of a court marshal at the hands of the GAR high command. Rex hoped that the Jedi would be more lenient, but he didn’t know. All he had to go off was that it was hard to picture a Jedi firing squad. When Dogma had been temporarily released for the trip back to Coruscant, he hadn’t said a word. In fact, Rex hadn’t heard him utter a sound, besides his snoring, since Umbara.

Rex wondered if it said something damning about him that he wasn’t able to take that shot. He considered himself someone willing to do whatever it took to ensure victory, to keep his brothers safe. Did this just prove that to be untrue? General Skywalker had said the though Dogma and Rex were alike and superficially perhaps they were. Fiercely loyal, devoted to the cause… trusting. But Dogma took the shot that Rex couldn’t, because Rex couldn’t, but why? Was he afraid the consequences, afraid of what it would mean to be a Jedi killer? Say what you would about Dogma he didn’t really factor in personal consequences into his actions.  

Would the outcome be different if it had been him? Rex wasn’t sure. And if it was, what did that say about the GAR? What did that say about him? Was his life worth more than Dogma’s? Because he was older, more experienced, because General Skywalker had taken a liking to him? Was he more deserving of mercy because he happened to be a Jedi’s favourite clone? Because General Skywalker could remember his name when he always seemed to forget Dogma’s? Rex was spiralling, and he didn’t know how to stop it.

One last strike of his fist into the punching bag and Rex all be collapsed. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Tup had stopped as well, at some point having been joined by Fives. They were both watching him, concern on Fives face, Tups expression was drawn. Looking down at his hands, Rex realised belated that he had forgotten to wrap his knuckles before starting, blood trickling from the split skin, staining the bag.

“You should go see Kix for that sir.” Fives voice seemed thin a far away. Rex recalled Kix’s tired eyes for earlier that night. He didn’t need to adding anything more to his brother plate tonight, he’d speak to him in the morning. He told Fives as much. The ARC gave him a reluctant nod. Rex glanced back to Tup, stood staring at the floor shoulders hunched, looking like he was about to throw up. Catching Fives eye, he received a second nod. The ARC would make sure that Tup was ok, that he got back to his bunk. Rex gave Fives a tried smile before turning to leave that gym. The next morning Fives wouldn’t mention how Rex’s stumbled from exhaustion as he walked and Rex wouldn’t mention the telltale red rims to Fives eyes.

Finally, back at his bunk, Rex though he might finally be tried enough to get some rest even though Dogma’s snoring. Upon entering Rex found the room empty, it would appear Dogma had made himself scarce once again. Rex would tell him the Generals news in the morning then. For now, he would finally grab a few hours of sleep.

[colehasapen]

(ONE SHOT) kyr'yc STAR WARS

Kix had been frozen for fifty years.

Everything he had loved, everything he had fought for - it was all gone. Everything had been destroyed because Kix had failed. He had failed Fives, failed Jesse and Rec - he had failed the Republic and the Jedi, and now it had all been ruined. His brothers had been brainwashed and killed all the while Kix slept on in stasis, unaware of it all happening, not even knowing that he wasn’t still sleeping in his office, desperately following the trail Fives had left behind and being driven mad by it.

He must not have been careful enough, because he had been taken before he could bring his information to the High Generals. Taken and frozen and lost for fifty years.

He’s the last clone alive. He had missed Rex by almost thirty years - Rex who, according to records, had lived beyond the fall of the Republic and the slaughter of the Jedi. Rex had survived to be an old man and had helped the Rebellion overthrow the Empire. He had died in his sleep almost thirty years ago, believing himself to be the last, and unaware that Kix had been stolen and frozen the whole time. Rex had died as an old man, and Kix was alone before he had even been aware of it.

Kix moves through life in a haze after he wakes up, untethered and alone and without a reason to continue on, but still he moves, unable to stop. He’s living in a galaxy not his own, lost and trying to find anything that could make him feel whole again. He’s a clone alone in a galaxy that never wanted him, without the brothers that had surrounded him from the moment he had been decanted. Even when he was lonely, he had never been alone, but now - now he has nothing and no one.

Clones were never never made to be alone; they were made to operate in teams, they were designed to work in cohesive units. They never coped well by themselves, it was something even the Kaminoans had known, and had stopped forcing them into solitary after the massive rise in suicides that they had had to deal with. Clones preferred death to being alone, they fell into depressive, self-destructive spirals if removed from their networks, and the massive number of deaths that had followed the introduction of one-man survival missions had convinced even the Kaminoans to stop separating clones from each other when it had gotten too costly.

It’s hard, not eating his own blaster now, especially on bad days when he wants nothing more than to go see his brothers once more. He sees Rex and Jesse when he closes his eyes, he hears Hardcase’s laugh, Fives’ voice, and Echo’s bad jokes. He imagines sitting in their bunkroom on the Resolute, eating snacks that Jesse had smuggled onto the ship, watching Dogma braid Tup’s long hair while Jesse and Hardcase wrestle at his feet and Fives and Echo bicker about the most ridiculous of subjects. Rex would have watched from a distance, needing to keep up the image of their strict Captain, but eventually they’d manage to wheedle him into joining them. They would sleep in a clone pile, surrounded by warmth and brothers and the feeling of safety and home. Kix would always wake up alone though, reality sinking in once more, and - Force, he wants that again.

He wants to be surrounded by his brothers again, to be with people who understand him on levels no one else does. But he can never do it, not matter how much he wants to. He can’t bring himself to pull the trigger because he sees Coric’s sad eyes every time they’d have to lie on another form after another body had been found with a hole through their heads, he sees Rex’s desperation as he talks brothers away from the edge. He remembers Fives’ shaking hands after Lola Sayu when they’d had to wrestle a syringe out of his grasp, and the broken, wailing noises he’d made afterwards.

They’d want Kix to keep moving, so that’s what he does. He stays with Ithano and his crew for a time, enjoying wild jaunts across the Galaxy hunting for treasure and adventure, but he doesn’t stay with the pirates and they don’t force him to. He drifts for a time, and gets lost once or twice. He finds the remains of the 332nd’s crashed ship and cries in front of Jesse’s grave, holding the cracked, weathered helmet in his hands as if it were his brother, apologizing to the thousands of beings he had failed and the brothers who had died because of him. He doesn’t want to imagine Jesse’s last moments, but it’s hard not to when he sees the jagged cracks in the helmet Jesse had oh-so lovingly painted after making it to ARC, promising to do Fives’ memory proud. He would have been forcibly turned against their Captain and Commander because Kix had failed to honour Fives’ last request. He would have died when the ship went down, and Kix hopes it was on impact. He hopes Jesse hadn’t been in too much pain.

Kix keeps moving, he owes that much to his brothers. He continues living for them, and when he hears of a wanna-be Empire trying to gain a foothold in the Galaxy, Kix goes to the Resistance. No one recognizes him as a clone, not as a relic of an age long past, instead he’s just Kix, a combat medic who wants to help. He knows how to fight and is a good teacher for anyone Command throws at him, and the Resistance needs whoever they can take.

He flourishes in war - he would have never thought he’d miss having to stitch people back together, but somehow he had. Kix is a clone, he had been made to fight. It gives him a purpose again, to protect the New Republic.

It also gives him the chance to build a new network.

Kix finds a young man in the medical bay one night as he finishes some paperwork for General Organa, and the kid who had been supposed to be heavily drugged stirs. He’s young with dark skin and doe eyes that remind Kix of his youngest brothers after their first battles, wearing a pair of loose sleep pants and a back-full of bacta wraps. He’s trying to sit up in the bed, struggling against the wires and machines around him as he gasps through his panic.

Kix is at his side within seconds, carefully taking the boy by his shoulder, avoiding the thick bandages around his torso, “Hey, no. Stay down kid.” He advises, and large dark eyes turn to him in surprise and groggy confusion. “My name is Kix, I’m a Resistance medic. You’re safe.” He soothes.

“I - the - Starkiller base?” He croaks, and Kix tilts his head, offering the boy a comforting smile that doesn’t feel as fake as it normally does.

“Destroyed, kid.”

The young man lets out a breath of relief, and lets Kix push him back into the bed to lay on his stomach once more, “That’s good.” He murmurs, before alarm sparks in his eyes again. “Rey?”

“Well,” Kix starts, moving to fuss with the kid’s bandages so that he could inspect the injury. “We don’t have any casualty reports on a Rey, so I can say that they’re not in the medbay.” The boy relaxes, “You, on the other hand, have been in bacta for the last week and a half.” He finally manages to wrestle the wrappings off of the kid, and he lets out a shocked hiss at the sight of the massive injury twisting across his spine. “How did you get a lightsaber burn?” He demands - there hadn’t been any notes about lightsaber burns in any files he had read. But then again, who the hell would know what they were looking at with the Jedi reduced to nothing but a legend and a scary story to tell misbehaving children.

The young man blinks lethargically, the cocktail of drugs in his system probably taking effect again with the drop of his adrenaline levels. “Tried to fight Kylo Ren.” He grunts, “Lost.”

“Got some balls on you then. But that was a stupid thing to do” He had seen what lightsabers could do - he had stared at brothers hacked apart too often not to. “You’re lucky to be alive, kid.”

“Not a kid.” The kid mumbles, watching sleepily as Kix starts reapplying bacta to the wound. His cheek is smushed into the pillow, much like how Tup had once slept, his short curls a mess that reminded Kix way too much of Dogma’s before the younger trooper managed to slick it back in the morning.

It makes his heart hurt to look at him, but it’s nice to see his brothers somewhere in this messed up Galaxy.

Kix shakes himself, letting out a sardonic snort, “Well, you haven’t exactly told me your name, kid.”

He pouts sleepily, enough Fives in his expression that it aches, “FN-2187.”

Kix freezes, horror washing over him and a sick feeling in his stomach; he thought there wouldn’t be anymore children with numbers instead of names with the destruction of Kamino, but apparently that was too much to hope for. The kid - because Kix can’t even bring himself to call another person by a number, not again - flinches under his hands, like he was bracing for a blow.

If there was even more of a reason to hate Imperials, Kix was looking at it.

Dark eyes dart away from him nervously, and the kid licks his lips. “Finn.” He says quietly, a little desperate, “My name is Finn. And I’m not a number.”

Kix swallows. He stills the shaking in his hands and keeps working, “It’s nice to meet you, Finn.” He tells him honestly, and watches, a little heartbroken, as shock blooms in Finn’s wide eyes. “I’m CT-6116, but my name is Kix.” Finn’s breath catches, “I’m not a number either.”

“You’re like me.” Finn whispers in awe, voice cracking. “I’m not alone.”

“Not anymore, vod’ika.” Kix promises, throat thick and eyes burning, and he means it.

Finn wouldn’t be alone, not if he had anything to say about it.

[isitmadness]

What Keeps Us Alive pt. 2

summary: Obi-Wan, Cody, and the very few remnants of the 212th make their way back to Coruscant after Order 66. Beyond dealing with the emotional fallout, they need to find a way to locate the inhibitor chips and remove them before they’re triggered again.

characters/relationships: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Commander Cody, Longshot, Boil, Cross (original clone character); established Obi-Wan/Cody

words: 4.2k

a/n: I got nothin’ except i hope you enjoy

Read it on a03

The War is Over; What Keeps Us Alive Part 1

Obi-Wan awoke slowly the next morning feeling physically and emotionally drained. Every joint ached, every muscle was tight. He felt every scratch, bruise and break from his fights with Grievous and Cody, then the subsequent fall from the upper levels of Pau City. But he was grateful it wasn’t worse. He remained on his back, staring at the grey ceiling of his quarters. He was still alive.

Though wary at first, lying beside Cody and holding him once more was a balm to his soul. He realized how very close he had come to losing him, too. He didn't know what would happen to them now. He didn't know what to do when they returned to Coruscant…

But he would try to appreciate the time he had with him until then. As long as he didn’t try to kill him again. He couldn't, wouldn't, think of that.

He groaned as he turned over and was surprised to find Cody still in the room. He hadn't even felt his presence there. He was sitting at Obi-Wan's desk in his blacks, a cup of caf in his hand and his head bowed over a datapad. It was rare that they were ever in the same room the next morning. There was a sudden tightness in Obi-Wan’s chest that he knew was unrelated to yesterday's battle.

Cody mostly felt like his Cody, but below the surface, there was anxiety and a delicate and fragile calm emanating from the commander. Obi-Wan was hesitant to say anything for fear of breaking that calm.

"Cody?" The commander turned to look at Obi-Wan.

"Good morning, Obi-Wan," he smiled softly. Cody could be stern, calculating and tough, but he had to be as marshal commander. That’s why Obi-Wan felt privileged that he got to see his softer side, whenever he was able to show it. That gentle look never failed to catch Obi-Wan’s breath in his throat.

He sat up and ran light fingers through his hair in an attempt to tame any wild and unruly pieces. "What time is it?"

Cody stood and closed the distance between him and Obi-Wan in two steps. He gently plunged his fingers into the Jedi's thick sandy-ginger locks, smoothing down the worst of it. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, relishing the touch.

"It's almost 8:30," Cody said, finally removing his hands and dropping them at his sides. Obi-Wan opened his eyes and grabbed his left hand and brought Cody's bruised and scarred knuckles to his lips. He watched as Obi-Wan kissed each of his fingers gently. That old familiar warmth began to pool in his gut. "Obi-Wan…" he said breathlessly.

Obi-Wan looked up at him with hooded eyelids. "Yes?" He turned Cody’s arm over and kissed the inside of his wrist just where the sleeve of his black undersuit ended.

"We--" Cody cursed under his breath when his comlink beeped. Obi-Wan smiled, squeezing his fingers. He raised his other wrist and turned on the communicator, "What??" Obi-Wan laughed at the frustration in Cody's voice. He leaned back on his hands.

"Commander?" It was Cross.

"Sorry, yes, Cody here," he sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. Obi-Wan stood and ran a sympathetic hand down his bicep.

"Uh, it's Cross," he stammered, not quite sure what mood he found his commander in. "There's something I think you should see, sir."

Oh. Cody and Obi-Wan exchanged a nervous glance. "Of course, Cross, I'll be there right away."

"Oh, and bring the general with you, would you?" Though he couldn't see him, Cody heard the smirk on Cross' face.

"That little shi--"

"Cody," Obi-Wan said in a playful warning. Cody sighed and leaned in for a quick kiss which Obi-Wan returned gladly.

"Let me get my armor on, then we'll go." Cody leaned down and picked up the various painted plastoid pieces he had scattered on the floor the night before, putting them on and locking them into place. Obi-Wan didn't get to see him dressing often, in fact, it was usually quite the opposite, so he was always enthralled by how quickly Cody's deft fingers created the suit of armor.

Without looking up, Cody asked, "You gonna just stand there and stare at me or you gonna get dressed, too? I mean you're more than welcome to go looking like that, I won't complain." Cody finally looked up with a wicked grin.

Obi-Wan looked down at his own state of undress. "Ah yes, I suppose I should do that, too."

"Yeah," Cody chuckled. "You should."

----

Cody and Obi-Wan walked into the command center 10 minutes later to find Cross standing at the holo table, a large blue projection of a Kaminoan rose from the center.

"Ah, General, Commander, good morning." Well, at least Cross is himself, Obi-Wan thought. "I trust you slept well?"

Cross kept a completely straight face, but there was a knowing glint in his eye. Cody stared at the medic and remained silent. Obi-Wan cleared his throat, "Yes, thank you, Cross. I hope you weren't up all night looking for this?"

Cross waved his hand dismissively, "I got a few hours, I'll be fine." Obi-Wan and Cody were both skeptical. "But anyway, I've been searching through records, looking for anything about the chips. And I think I've finally found what we need. This is Nala Se, Kamino’s Chief Medical Scientist."

Cody and Obi-Wan exchanged a brief glance with each other. "I remember a report from Kamino after the tragic incident with Fives. The Council reviewed it after the Chancellor sent it to us." Cross pressed play anyway.

An independent investigation confirmed that the clone trooper CT-5555 experienced a malfunction with his inhibitor chip. Both the Senate committee and the Jedi Council have accepted these findings. However, a grievance report was filed by CT-7567.

"CT-7567? Captain Rex?" Obi-Wan looked at Cody then Cross quizzically. "And what sort of grievance? I've never seen this report." It disturbed Cody that neither the marshal commander nor a high general had ever seen this grievance.

Cody hung his head and sighed. "I…I remember him telling me he was going to do this." He closed his eyes and sent a quick prayer to the Force that Rex was still alive, and that he hadn't made the same mistake as Cody. "I encouraged him to do so if he felt it was necessary, but I never saw the report. I guess I assumed he hadn't done it after all…" what must Rex have thought of him?

"Well, I found the file," Cross looked down and pressed some keys, but it was followed by a warning beep. "It's locked."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "Locked?"

"I tried every code of mine that I could think of, none of them worked. Surely General Kenobi or Commander Cody have one that works?" Cross looked at Obi-Wan with a hopeful expression.

Obi-Wan and Cody both walked closer. Obi-Wan’s hands hovered over the keyboard as Cody looked over his shoulder. Obi-Wan turned his body slightly to try and enter his code discreetly, but Cody saw it anyway and smiled to himself. "Obi-Wan… you're joking."

A holo of the 501st captain appeared over the table. Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder innocently, "What?"

"That's your code?" Cody put his hands on his hips.

Cross looked between the two, curious about whatever inside joke he was missing. "I feel like I'm missing something."

"It's nothing," Obi-Wan smiled. "Let's watch this recording, shall we?"

All three men turned back to Rex as Obi-Wan pressed play.

I already know this report is gonna fall on deaf ears, but I owe it to Fives to record what I saw. I’m not sure I believe it myself, but there’s a possibility that the inhibitor chips the Kaminoans put inside of us have a purpose that we don’t yet fully understand.

The room was somber once more.

"Oh, Rexy… how have I failed you?" Cody murmured and shook his head. Obi-Wan settled a comforting hand on the commander's shoulder.

Cross finally spoke up. "So the official report was that a virus from Ringo Vinda caused Tup and Fives' chips to malfunction. And now we know that to be completely false."

"This was a planned conspiracy of the highest order." Obi-Wan was incredulous, hurt, and confused. "One that went all the way to the top and planned since your inception." The weight of what Obi-Wan was saying struck Cody square in the chest full-force. "This was all very carefully orchestrated for our complete destruction."

"At the hands of those you trusted implicitly," Cody finished. Anger bubbled in his chest. Whoever was responsible for this would pay. For Tup, for Fives, for every life lost because they weren't believed...because they were all manipulated. Cody clenched and unclenched his fists at his side. He slowly started to back away from the table. "I can't...be in here right now." Obi-Wan reached out as Cody turned and left the bridge.

"He'll be okay...eventually," Cross said, trying to comfort Obi-Wan.

"Will he? Will you?" Cross looked down, unable to meet his general’s gaze. They stood in silence staring up at Rex's face. Obi-Wan felt almost like he knew even less now. It was clear this was covered up and swept under the rug, and whoever was responsible did a fine and thorough job. Obi-Wan looked over at Cross who seemed to be dead on his feet. "Cross, why don't you go get some rest? You look like you're about to pass out," he said gently.

Cross chuckled and shook his head gently, "You know, general, I think I will."

"Good man." Obi-Wan turned off the holo projector and watched Cross leave the command center, too.

He was alone again. -----

Death to the traitorous Jedi. Longshot raised his blaster, keeping the back of the Jedi traitor’s head in his sights. He would not fail where his commander had.

"Longshot? What the h--" Cody's question was interrupted by a firing of the blaster. Cody ran.

"No!" Longshot yelled as Cody grabbed him from behind, putting him in a headlock with his left arm and wrenching the arm that held the blaster behind his back. Obi-Wan spun around, wide-eyed and grabbed his neck where the blaster fire grazed him. He reached for the lightsaber on his belt as Cody and Longshot struggled, but froze when he discovered it wasn't there.

"Let it go, Longshot!" Cody growled as he squeezed the arm around Longshot's neck, tugging the trooper closer to his own body. He shook Longshot's right arm violently until the blaster fell to the ground with a thud.

Obi-Wan reached out and used the Force to pull the blaster towards him. It slid across the floor, stopping at the toe of his boot.

Cody continued to struggle to subdue the trooper. Through gritted teeth, Longshot repeated every word of that hollow line, "good...soldiers...follow...orders." Cody tightened the arm around his neck one last time, cutting off the air flow until Longshot passed out. He gently laid him on the durasteel floor.

Obi-Wan rushed over and knelt by Longshot. He placed two fingers on his neck searching for a pulse - alive. "Is he okay? What happened??"

"Is he..." Cody panted and huffed out of annoyance. "He just tried to kill you, sir!"

Obi-Wan gave him a weary smile, "Well he didn't succeed, thanks to you. "

Cody hung his head and shook it. When he looked up again, Obi-Wan was staring at him curiously. Cody noticed the red, angry mark across the side of Obi-Wan's neck. He reached over and placed his hand on Obi-Wan's cheek. "He could have killed you, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan placed his hand over Cody's and leaned into the touch, "But he didn't. I'm still here. I'm still whole." Cody could feel tears threatening once more. "Let's get him to a holding cell, shall we? Before he tries it again. We must work faster on this chip problem."

Cody nodded, "We need to get you patched up first, then we'll deal with it." Cody looked down at Longshot's sleeping face. He seemed to be struggling, even in sleep. His eyes darted back and forth quickly behind his closed eyelids. Cody placed his arms under Longshot's shoulders in an attempt to lift him off the floor. "A little help here?"

Obi-Wan looked down at the two clones, "Ah, please allow me." Cody sat back on his heels and watched as Obi-Wan stretched out his hands, fingers splayed. Longshot rose gently off the floor and hovered a few feet off the ground.

“I guess it beats carrying him,” Cody joked weakly. Obi-Wan gave him a sympathetic smile.

----

Obi-Wan gently laid Longshot on the cot in the holding cell, surprised but grateful that he had remained asleep. For once, Longshot looked small and peaceful. He felt a profound sense of sadness for what had been done to all of them. This life they were created for.

He startled when he felt a hand squeeze his shoulder. "Obi-Wan, we need to get your wound cleaned up." He turned towards Cody and felt like he was almost seeing him for the first time. He had spent the last three years fighting and wishing the war had never even happened, but without it, he wouldn't have Cody. It’s not that he just wouldn't have the opportunity to know Cody, he just wouldn't even exist. The thought took his breath away.

"Are you okay? You have a bit of a faraway look going on." Cody searched his face, concerned.

"I think will be," Obi-Wan said as they walked out of the holding cell.

----

In the medbay, Obi-Wan sat on an exam table while Cody gently cleaned the wound on his neck. He found himself thinking how easy it was to slip back into trust - trust of his men, trust in himself. He was disturbed that Longshot had snapped again. Especially seemingly without a trigger. That meant that any of them could try it again, even him. He'd need to separate himself from Obi-Wan from here on out. Especially at night when the Jedi was at his most vulnerable.

What must Obi-Wan be thinking, knowing he was trapped on this ship with four potential murderers for three more days? If it weren't for the fact that Obi-Wan would be completely alone to fly the cruiser back to Coruscant, he'd suggest they all be put in the holding cells until they returned.

Obi-Wan reached up to still Cody's hand. "I know what you're thinking."

Cody wrinkled his brow and continued the first aid. "You're not a mindreader, how could you possibly know."

"Call it a hunch then," he smiled. "I know you and--"

Cody raised a single finger, "You thought you knew me. Turns out I don't even know myself." He put the bacta patch on Obi-Wan's neck and readjusted the collar of his tunic.

Obi-Wan stood. "We're going to find out how to locate and remove these chips. I promise."

Cody looked down. “I haven’t forgotten your other promise, you know...on Utapau. I hope you haven’t forgotten it either.”

“I will hear no more of this,” Obi-Wan said sternly as Cross walked in the medbay.

He stopped abruptly, surprised to see the two men. "General, Commander, what are you doing here?"

Cody rubbed a hand over his short, dark hair. "Well, Longshot tried to kill Obi-Wan. Where have you been?"

Cross' jaw dropped. "I was, uh...I was--"

Obi-Wan put a hand on Cody's arm. "Cody, I told him to go rest."

That hard, steely glare was back in Cody's eyes which caused a chill to run through Obi-Wan. Was he, too, about to snap once more? "He should have been in here doi--"

"With all due respect, Commander," Cross said hotly, interrupting whatever rant Cody was about to go on. "I don't know what to do. This is beyond anything I've ever dealt with. I can scan all of us again and hope to hell that the chips show up, but I'm not sure what you want me to do otherwise."

Cody clenched his hands once again.

"Okay, I think we all need to just remain calm, first of all,” Obi-Wan said. "And second of all, there's no harm in scanning you all again, is there? The worst that could happen is that it just wouldn’t show anything, yes? So, I think we should try. Our options are quite limited."

“Fine, I guess I’m volunteering then,” Cody threw his hands up, exasperatedly. Obi-Wan smiled to himself.

“Thank you, Cody.” He put his hand on Cody’s back and led him to the imaging table.

Cody laid down while Cross prepared the machine. Obi-Wan stood next to the table and watched. The situation continued to gnaw at his insides. He was having trouble finding peace. He was sure the troopers were feeling the same way, and he wished there was something he could do to put them at ease. They needed a win.

“All right, Commander, are you ready?” Cross asked, putting a gentle hand on Cody’s forearm. He knew the commander was on edge - they all were.

“Let’s do it.” Cody closed his eyes. Obi-Wan and Cross stepped back as Cody’s upper half disappeared into the scanner. Cross watched the screen as it blinked to life, showing Cody’s cranium. His face fell and his shoulders slumped when the image of his brain looked exactly as it had yesterday. Absolutely no indication of a chip.

Inside the machine, Cody screwed his eyes shut tighter and focused on the chip. He knew it was ridiculous, but he desperately wanted to believe that if he focused hard enough, it would show on the scan. He’d laugh at himself if it weren’t for the need to remain still. And though he wasn’t a Jedi, he believed in the Force. He believed what Obi-Wan and the Jedi believed, that it flowed through all living beings, binding them together. So he prayed to the Force, hoping it would come through for him this time, too.

Obi-Wan, for his part, hoped for this as well. “General!” Cross suddenly shouted. Cody flinched and Obi-Wan ran around to the other side of the table. The image of Cody’s head flickered and a large red spot appeared in the right frontal lobe. “There it is!”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, the spot disappeared, but they had both seen it. It was the confirmation they needed. Cross looked over at Obi-Wan, his eyes were glistening, but he seemed to be holding himself together. He put his arm around his shoulders and pulled his general in for a quick, tight hug. Obi-Wan exhaled and patted Cross on the back.

“Is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on?” Cody suddenly said from inside the machine. Cross chuckled and pushed the button to bring Cody back out of the scanner. Once out, he sat up and looked at the two men.

Obi-Wan grabbed his hand, not caring this time that Cross was around. He already seemed to know what was between them anyway. “We saw it. Cody, we found it!” It seemed Cody also didn’t care that Cross was there since he pulled Obi-Wan forward into a tight hug then kissed his cheek.

“So, if you two are done celebrating here,” Cross said with a smirk, “then maybe we can finally get that thing out of your head. Out of everyone’s head. Get some peace.”

Cody exhaled, “Kriff, yes.”

----

It took the better part of an hour, but Cody, Cross, and Boil all had their chips finally removed. Their headaches were gone and their anxiety over potentially killing their general had subsided.

“I feel like I could sleep for days,” Boil said scratching at his head lightly, careful not to upset the bandage.

“You certainly have my permission to do so,” Obi-Wan laughed. “Not that you need my permission…”

“Now, what about Longshot?” Cody asked.

“If he’s still...compromised, sedation will have to be our only hope,” Cross said. He rummaged through the supply drawers looking for the strongest sedatives they had. “I will ask his forgiveness later.”

----

All four men walked to the holding cell, believing in strength in numbers. Cody had insisted that Obi-Wan stay out of sight in case his presence triggered something in Longshot, but Obi-Wan was stubborn. As the only Force-user, he wanted to be on-hand just in case Longshot managed to overpower the others. His lightsaber still remained in his quarters.

When they got to the cell door, Cody and Boil raised their blasters at the ready. “Surely you don’t think this is necessary?” Obi-Wan asked worriedly.

“I don’t think it’s wise to be unprepared, sir,” Boil answered.

“It’s not...ideal, certainly,” Cody added. “But we can’t take any chances.”

The door slid open and Longshot shot up off the cot.

They held their blasters at the ready, and Longshot raised his hands in surrender. “What is this shit?” Obi-Wan walked in last and stuck his head out from behind Cross. “Kill the Jedi!” Longshot yelled as he leapt at Cross who plunged the hypodermic needle with the sedative into Longshot’s neck in the scuffle. The force of Longshot’s jump pushed Cross back into Obi-Wan who reached out with the Force to keep them both from hitting the ground.

Cody and Boil turned to face them and put their blasters down when Longshot slumped heavily into Cross’ arms. “Thank the Force,” Boil sighed.

“Let’s get him onto the stretcher and back to the medbay, quickly,” Cross said struggling under the weight.

----

Once Longshot’s extraction was finished, all four clone troopers disappeared, presumably back to their beds and quarters. They all deserved to rest as much as possible in the remaining time it took to get to Coruscant. Obi-Wan found himself wandering to the bridge once more, desperate to reach anyone. He tried hailing Coruscant, but was only met with a message to retreat to the temple, 'the war is over.’ His heart sank.

Trying once again to find someone, anyone, Obi-Wan sent out another message on his comlink. “Emergency Code 913, I have no contact on any frequency. Are there any Jedi out there?... anywhere…”

A fuzzy blue hologram of Senator Bail Organa appeared. It was mostly static, but Obi-Wan could at least make out his own last name. “I’ve locked on, repeat!”

The image of Bail became clearer, “Master Kenobi??” He sounded relieved. Obi-Wan’s heart beat wildly, grateful he found someone.

“Senator Organa! My troopers turned on me on Utapau, it’s a long, long story, but by some miracle, I escaped with four of them,” Obi-Wan was desperate to tell Bail everything, but he felt the need to be brief. He would hopefully get the chance to tell him later.

“It appears this ambush has happened everywhere,” Bail said. That was the final confirmation that Obi-Wan didn’t want. “And we have just rescued Master Yoda. We're sending you our coordinates.” Obi-Wan breathed another sigh of relief. Master Yoda was alive. It was something.

Obi-Wan took the cruiser out of hyperspace and set the new coordinates Bail had given him. He would tell the men when they woke up. They would be to Bail and Yoda in less than a day. It still felt too long, but it was closer than Coruscant.

----

Cody and Obi-Wan laid side-by-side in Obi-Wan’s bed again. Darkness surrounded them. Both knew the other wasn’t asleep, but they pretended anyway. Cody finally broke the silence. “Would you have done it?”

Obi-Wan’s first instinct was to ask ‘done what?’ but he already knew. “No.”

Cody turned on his side to face him, “Even though you promised?”

“Even though I promised,” Obi-Wan sighed. He remained on his back, staring at the ceiling. He could barely see Cody in the dark, but he didn’t want to look at him and see disappointment anyway.

“Look at me.” Cody reached over and gently grabbed Obi-Wan’s chin to turn his head. “You’re not one to break your promises.”

Obi-Wan blinked and Cody let go of his chin. “Well, I certainly have tried. But...I’m fallible, and sometimes I break promises.” He sat up, propping himself up on his elbow. He placed the palm of his other hand on Cody’s chest right over his heart. His skin was surprisingly cool, but he found the solace he was looking for in the steady rhythm in his commander’s chest. He was alive - they both were.

Cody picked up his hand, brought it to his lips, and pressed a tender kiss to Obi-Wan’s palm. “You are stubborn and see the good in people, even when they don’t deserve it.”

Obi-Wan laid back down and put his head on Cody’s shoulder. “If you’re referring to yourself, you do deserve it, and you always have...you always will. You’re a good man, Cody.” He paused for a beat then chuckled. “But I am stubborn, that is true. Then again, so are you.”

“We kind of had to be, didn’t we?” Cody pressed another kiss to Obi-Wan’s head.

“I think it’s what keeps us alive.”

The Force was so murky and shrouded in dark that Obi-Wan could barely see the immediate future, let alone any further. But he would continue to be stubborn if it meant the difference between life or death for those he cared about, and for himself, too.

[mando-chicken]

Dark Fives AU Timeline

The Dark Fives AU is an AU based on the concept of a force sensitive Fives. This will be a general overview of the draft timeline, it may be subject to change as I begin to develop the AU further, but it should give you a general idea of what happens.  

This took me so long to write oof, putting it under a read more to save your dash space!

To begin with, Fives didn’t really see himself as being any different to his other brothers. For the most part he just assumed that everyone had finely tuned senses, and thanks to a bit of a small attention span during his younger years he didn’t really notice when strange things happened.  

Items he’d placed in a certain location would move closer to him and he would just assume that he must have put it closer to himself than he’d originally thought, or he would anticipate something before it happened and just put it down as dumb luck or a funny coincidence. Echo was usually too buried in regs or whatever exercise they were completing to notice these small tells either.  

This advantage in skill over the other cadets was one of the many reasons their squad was fast tracked to their final test at a young age.   

His skills give him an edge during battle and later during ARC training, but for a long while his abilities remain largely dormant.

Fives, occasionally, unconsciously influences the emotions of his brothers when feeling a particularly strong emotion – when he was agitated about failing the test the first time his anger rubbed off onto Hevy and Echo who then began to fight – he’s entirely unaware when he’s doing it, but it seems to effect Echo the most prominently.

When Fives loses Echo his abilities cause almost the entire 501st to plunge into a deep sadness as a wave of depressing emotions crashes over them from Fives. The Jedi notice something is bothering their troops but can’t quite pinpoint it thanks to Fives withdrawing himself from everyone else for a while.  

It’s on Umbara when Fives finally cracks. After all the stress and horror that Krell put them all through he finds himself alone in one of the unused hangars, pacing and muttering angrily to himself. He’s worked himself up and when his emotions reach their peak he can’t help shouting, releasing all of his pent-up emotions at once.  

Everything surrounding him is suddenly all violently throw away from him in all directions and it’s like the floodgates have finally been opened. He can feel the force as it all pours into his mind for the first time, whispering, shouting, screaming at him all at once. His panic only makes things worse; his mind being filled with images, thoughts and feelings of brothers all throughout the galaxy.  

And he can feel them all dying.   

It isn’t until Rex decides to come looking for him almost half an hour later that he’s finally found. Everything within several meters of his person is floating in the air dangerously, but Rex only needs to take one look at the state his vod’ika is in to brave the danger. He’s shaking and finding it impossible to get down enough oxygen, begging for the horrible voices and feelings to get out of his head and leave him alone.  

Rex holds him for what feels like hours, struggling to get through to the distressed trooper and fearful of making the situation any worse than it already is. Eventually, however, Fives is exhausted from his panicking and begins to slowly drift off, calming slightly as he does so. It’s only then that Rex decides to call Kix to give him a once over and is able to get a somewhat shaky explanation.  

They decide that until they can completely confirm what is happening to Fives, they won’t speak to the Jedi, their trust too shaken after killing Krell earlier that very day.  

It becomes very difficult for Fives to hide his abilities after that – clones are used to expressing their emotions with one another, but due to having received no training on force abilities Fives finds almost anything can set off his abilities and it begins to become a bit of a hazard during battle.  

Deciding that he’s becoming a danger to his brothers, Fives begins to experiment with the force during his downtime in the hopes of being able to control his skills. Without instruction on how to use the force he finds himself getting easily frustrated by it, but as a result finds that getting agitated is perhaps the easiest way of getting the force to do as he wishes.  

When Tup attacks a Jedi, Fives senses what he’s going to do just before he does it, but it still unable to reach his brother in time. For a long while afterwards he blames himself for not reacting fast enough, despite all the training he’d been doing with his abilities.  

Much of the arc continues the same way as it is portrayed in the show, up until the final confrontation with the Coruscant Guard. Able to sense Fox’s intention to fire at him, Fives reaches out with the force, throwing back the approaching troopers into the side of the large crates behind them. While none of the Guard are seriously injured by his attack, they are rendered largely unconscious from the strength of the attack.  

Without the Guard to disrupt them, Fives is able to pass on all the information he’d learned from his time on Kamino and from the chancellor. Anakin is still highly skeptical, but with the convincing of Rex he’s willing to at least let them do a little investigating on their own.  

While Anakin and Rex inform the chancellor that Fives was killed during a shootout – alleging that his body was lost when it fell down a nearby shaft to the lower levels – Kix and Jesse are quick to escort their brother to a disused medical facility within the GAR where they can begin some tests. 

Finding the presence of the inhibitor chip is easy enough, but after a lengthy discussion they decide to allow Kix some time to study the chip and try to figure out just how it works. Anakin is very much interested in Fives’ force sensitivity, but unfortunately is unable to find the time to try and help the trooper hone his abilities, especially when the outer rim sieges begin.  

Unfortunately for Fives, he is barred from joining his brothers in battle and forced to remain back on Coruscant by himself, unable to leave certain areas in case he is discovered. During this alone time, he is able to channel his frustration into strengthening his abilities.  

When Echo is saved by Rex, Anakin and the Bad Batch he returns to Coruscant after being informed that Fives is still alive and the two of them are finally able to reunite.  

Anakin is more than angered when Kix later confirms their fears about just what the chips were intended for and he immediately gives the order for the 501st to have their chips removed as subtly as possible.  

When Anakin confronts Palpatine, he brings with him Rex, Fives and Echo (who insists he won’t let Fives go without him). Palpatine is all too happy to admit to everything, deciding that it’s time to try and turn Anakin to the dark side. For the most part he succeeds, but makes the mistake of insulting the gathered clones. What he wasn’t expecting was for one of them to practically throw him across the room with the force. He especially wasn’t expecting his loyal trooper, Fox, to draw his blaster and shoot him squarely through the back.  

Fox is loyal to the chancellor, but his loyalty is to the Republic first and foremost, and there’s no way he can allow someone who has openly admitted to manipulating both his brothers and both sides of the war. He’s never been so happy that people tend to forget his presence in the room.  

Skywalker takes over as chancellor, stating that it was Palpatine’s last act before he died after being gunned down by a ‘rogue bounty hunter’. With a little bit of Echo’s newfound computer skills, they’re able to come up with a flawless video that they show in place of the actual security footage that has already been erased and replaced.  

His first act as chancellor is to free all clones, offering them all rights as full Republic citizens and permanently ending all clone production, passing on the information about the chips to all medics in the GAR. The senate is in uproar over the decision, but there’s nothing they can do about it, Anakin has the entire clone army on his side.  

The Jedi, too, are upset by this development, but they are quickly outlawed and chased from Coruscant. Many of them die, but not as many as in the original purge. Cody assists Obi-wan in leaving Coruscant in secret, but refuses to leave his brothers behind and elects to stay with them in the GAR. During all the chaos the wolfpack and a large portion of the 104th are able to flee Coruscant with their Jedi and several younglings in tow – while no reported sightings are ever confirmed, it’s suspected that they’re all living together somewhere in the outer rim. Many other commanders and captains decide to leave the army, sneaking their Jedi out with them as they go.  

Without Dooku and Sidious to lead them and assist war efforts from behind the scenes the war is brought to a close, taking only a few months longer. The planets and systems that had defected from the Republic are brought back into the fold and quickly after the first Galactic Empire is formed.

The Kaminoans attempt to keep many of the young clones who are yet to be born, but Emperor Skywalker, who has recently become a father himself, refuses to allow these children to be kept as slaves and sends in his men to take them by force. Fives can’t recall a more glorious sight than watching Tipoca City burn, all his brothers safely by his side.  

Anakin takes on training Fives personally and within a few years he is anointed as the first member and leader of their new Imperial Inquisition. He trains force sensitive younglings to use their gifts and even manages to find a few fellow force sensitive brothers who quickly become a part of a tight knit group of fearsome enforcers of the Empire’s will.  

Rex and Cody share the burden of commanding the GAR, and Rex continues to serve as Anakin’s most trusted advisor. Cody on the other hand oversees the training of civillians who hope to join the GAR, ensuring that their skills are sharp enough to be considered for entry. It’s a hard job for them both, but they’re determined to ensure that standards are upkept for both the safety of the Empire and their brothers who chose to continue serving in the army.  

Echo works closely with the special forces, reporting directly to Rex, Cody, and occasionally Anakin. He meets up with the Bad Batch and they quickly become a formidable team and good friends. He of course returns back to Coruscant regularly to meet up with Fives and the two of them often exchange crazy stories from their work.  

[ryder-s-block]

Jaig Eyes (Ch 61)

Jaig Eyes (61/?)

Summary:

Kida, a former slave who now thrives as a bounty hunter, finds herself sucked into the war she advised Jango Fett against. Now that she’s involved, she has to finally mourn the loss of Jango, seeing his face in the clones that man the GAR. What happens when she allows herself to get attached to one, not for his resemblance to her former mentor, but for his heart?

————————-

Chapter Sixty-One: The General

I was still seething over the conversation I’d had with Krell. He’d been trying to intimidate me, and I hated to admit that it had worked, even if only a little. He had leverage over me, even if it was only military rank and potentially taking me away from the 501st for the mission.

I wasn’t sure why, but the Force was whispering that I just couldn’t leave. The thought of going made my stomach hurt. So I’d play along, just like I did in other jobs when bounty hunting. Or when I had to not die as a slave. I’d play along….for as long as I could, at least.

“Quicken that pace, battalion!” the before-mentioned general shouted over his shoulder. “This isn’t some training course on Kamino!”

He was leading our march behind an AT-RT, followed at a distance by Rex and Fives, who were right in front of me. I fought down the glare I wanted to shoot at the Jedi’s back, choosing to close myself off by sliding up my mask and snapping on my goggles. My interface came to life as we walked, Apex searching through databases for information on Krell.

“The new general has a way with words,” I heard Fives joke lightly, mildly annoyed. The Force rippled around Rex. He was conflicted. Annoyed with Fives’ boldness to talk ill of a general. Annoyed with the general of being an asshole. Annoyed with the chancellor for taking Anakin away.

“He’s just trying to keep us on schedule,” Rex managed in a dismissive sigh, keeping his annoyance at bay.

Fives tilted his head, not being deterred. “By raising everyone’s ire?”

My brows lifted with the corner of my lip. “Ire?” I cut in quietly, earning a chuckle from Jesse and Tup behind me. “Is that a fancy word you learned at ARC training?”

Rex ignored us, keeping his gaze forward. “Either way, he’s in charge, and we’ve got a job to do. Just treat him with respect, and we’ll all get along fine.”

“Do you see that?” Fives asked suddenly, cutting the conversation off. I was glad for that, actually, not wanting to blow up during a discussion about Krell. Fives drew his gun, aiming it at the sky.

“Yeah,” Rex said immediately, drawing his pistols. “Ready your weapons.” The clones opened fire at the two glowing bug-like creatures that were flying towards us. I drew my lightsaber, slicing the blade sideways through one of the bug’s pincers as it flew past. I went to pursue, seeing the other creature pick up a clone, but something big wrapped around my wrist, disengaging my blade.

“You are not a Jedi,” Krell threw my wrist away, tossing me to the ground. “You will not wield that weapon in front of me. It is disrespectful.”

“But,” I started, but stopped when his grip tightened around the hilt of his lightsaber. The Force rippled with darkness in warning. I cleared my throat, getting to my feet and tucking my lightsaber into the pouch at the back of my belt. “It won’t happen again, sir,” I said smoothly, hiding the bite in my tone this time. 

Krell leapt away, freeing the clone and killing both creatures easily. He stomped over the dead bug between Rex and Fives, pushing his foot over its spine, making it twitch. “Anyone else want to stop and play with the animals?” 

I wanted to shoot him. So bad. It would be so easy because he was so cocky right now. But I couldn’t. Shouldn’t, too. That didn’t stop me from daydreaming about it, thought.

“Didn’t think so,” Krell growled, looking directly at the helmet Rex had welded himself--merging the visor of Phase I with the filtration system of Phase II. “Now keep moving!” He took off again, my shoulders slumping only slightly.

“Alright?” Fives asked as he stopped beside me, hand on my shoulder. 

I nodded, letting him guide me into walking again, the battalion taking off in our march. “Not tired, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Good. Me neither.” 

“Wonderful,” a voice behind us made us turn, seeing Kix’s painted helmet. He sighed, the sound weird through the helmet’s filters. “You’re both exhausted.”

My laughter was automated sounding through my mask, too. “Exhausted?” Fives asked over my laughter. “Is that what we said?” We quieted immediately when Krell glanced back, feeling like anything happy wasn’t what he wanted from us.

Kix shoved past us gently, getting up to Rex’s side. “Sir,” I heard him say soft enough for Krell not to hear. “We’ve been keeping this pace for 12 hours now. The men are getting worn down. We should rest.”

Rex didn’t answer but had been looking back at Kix and immediately walked up to Krell. He was a good leader. He put his men first. Kix fell back in step with us, but I focused my mind, reaching out tentatively to focus on their conversation, allowing myself to hear despite the distance.

“General Krell,” Rex said, earning the Jedi’s attention, “The top of this ridge will make a good place for the men to make camp.”

“The men don’t need rest.” Krell’s response caught me by surprise. I nearly stumbled into Fives, the clone tilting his helmet at me in question. “They need the resolve to complete the task at hand.”

Rex was taken aback too. “But sir--”

Krell didn’t give him a chance. “CT-7567, are you reading me?” I gaped beneath my mask. I knew Rex’s number, of course--the code the Kaminoans identified him by. But I’d never heard anyone actually use it when addressing a soldier.

Rex seemed equally as shocked. “Excuse me, sir?”

“I asked you a question, CT-7567. Do you understand the need to adhere to my strategy?”

I was seething from my place behind them and I certainly would not have answered in as respectful a voice as Rex did. “Sir, the terrain is extremely hostile. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, the battalion is making good time. These men just need a little break.”

Krell turned abruptly, our battalion stopping as the general towered over Rex. “Captain, do I need to remind you of this battalion’s strategic mission in conquering this planet?” Krell’s chubby finger was shoved in Rex’s face, my anger flaring dangerously. “Look back. See those platoons?” 

Rex turned dutifully, his frustration buried deep below the surface as he looked out over us. 

“Their mission is to take this city and take it swiftly. Time and rest are luxuries the Republic cannot afford. We are the key to this invasion! The other battalions are counting on our support.” Krell was practically screaming now. “If we fail, everyone fails. Do you understand this?” He looked up, glaring at us all. “Do all of you understand this? Now, move on!”

Rex said nothing, jerking his head over his shoulder at us, getting us moving again. It looked like we wouldn’t be getting a break, then.

------------------------

We were weary. Exhausted. Still, despite keeping up such a fast pace for so long with no break...the clones were still itching for a fight.

“Sir,” Rex said as he approached Krell. I watched him from afar, wanting to keep my distance from the general. “We’re ready to bring our forward platoons in for a surgical strike on the city’s defenses.” I glanced cooly at Fives. This was the plan Anakin and Rex had developed. It would work...I could be assured in that.

And then Krell had to open his damn mouth. “There won’t be any need, Captain.” 

“Sir?”

“All platoons will execute a forward assault along the main route to the city,” Krell replied easily, his tone firm. My jaw dropped. That was suicide.

“But sir,” Rex tried, “General Skywalker’s plan was to surprise them with multiple attacks. If we come in from the main route, they’re likely to engage us in a full-frontal assault.”

“Change of plans, Captain,” Krell smirked, making me simmer in my anger. “I’m in command now.”

Rex looked….afraid. Not for himself, of course, but for his men. For me. “With all due respect, General, we don’t know what we are up against. It might be wise to think first.” The Force rippled in warning. I wanted to step forward and warn my captain, but I couldn’t.

It was already too late.

Krell whirled on Rex. “Are you questioning my order?” He tapped his wrist, a hologram of the capital appearing. “This battalion will take the main road straight to the capital. You will not stop and you will not turn back regardless of the resistance you meet.” The hologram disappeared again as the Jedi stood tall with pride. “We will attack them with all our troops, not some sneak attack with a few men.”

I couldn’t stop myself any more. “Sneak attacks are to ensure victory with as little cost to us as possible,” I spoke up, my tone hard. “Your plan is suicide.” It was bold to say, but someone had to. And it was true, after all. We were all thinking it.

Krell glowered at me, his yellow eyes burning. “That is my order and you will follow it explicitly,” he growled, my mouth closing slowly into a scowl when he looked away from me, the discussion over. I usually was never one to let the verbal battle go….but I didn’t forget his threat earlier. I wasn’t going to leave Rex and the boys alone with him, especially knowing the death wish this Jedi apparently had. “Do I make myself clear, CT-7567?” He was talking to Rex again, their faces close. He was degrading him by refusing to use his name. 

My nose crinkled in distaste. All I wanted to do was put him on his ass. Show him that I’d been a player in this game before...but I wasn’t anymore. And never would be again. 

But I couldn’t. For the sake of the ones I loved.

“Yes, General,” Rex replied, his shoulder slumping slightly. Krell was getting to him. I could feel the tension within the clone. How trapped he felt.

“Now, engage,” Krell ordered, the captain snapping off a salute before walking past us dutifully. 

“Rex,” I whispered as he went, but he didn’t turn. He would follow the orders….as he was told.

“Fett,” Krell growled, earning my attention. I approached, but didn’t stand at attention. Screw this guy. “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear enough before.”

I cleared my throat slightly, remembering to play along for now. “You did, sir. It’s a...habit.”

“Then break it,” he hissed, making me fight off the urge to flinch. “I considered taking Skywalkers advice and using your talents,” he allowed pacing before me. “And I was going to keep you on the ridge with me for strategic uses.” My eyes widened at the fact that he was going to observe the battle from afar, rather than fight with his troops. “But insolence will not be tolerated. Follow the clones you seem so desperate to protect. You’ll be part of the assault.”

Secretly, as much as this was a suicide-mission….I’d rather be on the ground where I can at least try to protect my friends than standing next to that foul monster, watching everyone die.

“Yes, sir,” I replied easily, walking away without being dismissed. A part of me half expected a lightsaber to hit me in the back, but Krell let it slide.

Maybe because he expected me to die during the assault.

Him and me, both, really.

I fell into step with the other clones as we walked along the main road that led to the highway. I did my best to keep my sighs of disbelief in. This was ridiculous. I was glad for my mask and goggles. Otherwise the clones would see the anger I was barely containing.

“So why aren’t we sticking to the original plan and probing the city defenses first?” Tup asked as he walked behind me. 

Hardcase turned from where he walked beside me. “We can do this. Let’s take ‘em!” He was terribly confident. More than me, at least. The entire planet rippled with the Dark Side, making it hard to feel the things around me. Not to mention Krell was a mystery that just bundled around either an idiot or an asshole.

“Yeah, leave it to Hardcase to dive in head-first,” Jesse teased, trying to keep the mood light.

“The general’s new plan is reckless,” Fives said, unable to contain his frustration any long. “What you said was right, Kida.”

Dogma glanced over his shoulder at us. “You ever think that maybe the general knows what he is doing?” 

I scowled at the young clone behind my mask, but Fives only ignored him. Apparently he was used to rigid shinies like Dogma. “I know you think this is a bad idea,” Fives said to Rex, forcing the captain to stop ignoring our conversation.

“I raised my objection to General Krell’s plan, but he didn’t agree,” Rex explained calmly, as if reading through the instructions of a manual on how to deal with superiors having dumb plans. “So this is it.”

“Well, what if he’s wrong?” Fives questioned. “Then what?”

“This isn’t the time for a debate,” Rex smoothed the situation as best he could. I disagreed, since the debate could save our lives. Of course, I felt Rex’s mind racing. They weren’t trained to question orders. If they did, they could be charged with treason, and that was never a good thing for a clone.

We were backed into a corner.

“Right now, we have to stay alert,” Rex finished, his tone final. The men listened, dropping the argument. For now.

“Eh,” Tup worried, his barrel panning over the tree line. “It’s too quiet out there.” 

My pistols were drawn into my fists already as I hummed lowly in agreement, eyes scanning the trees. I brought up thermal imaging, seeing nothing yet.

And then suddenly the ground shook, a tiny shockwave throwing my forward. A clone had stepped on a mine in the road. Another went off as their victims screamed. I froze, Fives and Rex dropping to the ground.

“Mines,” Fives called, “Nobody move!” I glanced around, seeing them all prone. I had already found my feet again, dusting off my armor. 

Rex signalled to Kix and Hardcase, the two checking on the injured clones. “Oz is down,” Hardcase called, his hand on his brother.

Kix shook his head sadly. “So is Ringo.”

The captain approached between Fives and I, looking at us. “Can you sweep ‘em?” he asked us both.

I was glad Fives had detection software in his toolbelt, too. It would make things go faster. In order to sweep with my HUD, I had to turn off the thermal, unfortunately. I prayed silently to the Force for it to warn me if we were under attack.

“There’s more over here,” Fives called as he swept the right side of the road, my feet taking me down the left.

“Here, too,” I reported over my shoulder. “It looks like the whole road’s been booby-trapped.”

“Everyone, watch your step,” Fives advised darkly as we began leading the troops down the safest paths.

And then there was a ripple of air across the back of my neck, just barely disturbing the hair there. I turned just in time to see the giant ball of green fire exploding into the road behind us. It was followed closely with the yelling of the Umbarans in their native tongue, green bolts flashing by as they ambushed us from behind.

To be fair, I’d hoped for a warning from the Force. While I was expecting more than half a second….it was a warning, nonetheless.

“We’re completely exposed!” Tup cried as we were quickly surrounded on all sides. My pistols rattled off endless, taking down the Umbarans. Still, it’s like they kept coming endlessly.

“Stand your ground!” Rex ordered.

Hardcase stood near the center of our group, firing his rotary blaster. “You want a piece of this?” he taunted as he mowed down rows of attackers. An explosion rumbled the ground as another cannon blast came in.

“I think Hardcase made ‘em mad,” Jesse observed, still shooting into the trees. 

Speaking of, some Umbarans raced from the tree line, trying to take us down by hand. “The Umbarans are advancing,” Fives yelled. Tup easily flipped one, my own attacked swinging high. I ducked below him, easily shooting him twice in the ribs before easily stepping past and moving to my next target.

The Umbarans knew their territory well and had good weapons, I’d give them that. But their hand-to-hand was shit. I wasn’t even sure why they tried it when they had massive cannons to use instead.

I rolled beneath a volley of shots, sending my own into the trees as I reactivated thermal. And then a shot caught me from the side, grazing across the side of my goggles and mask. It burns the material of my mask, making me drag it from my face with a cry of pain. The goggles were fine, besides from some spider-webbed cracking at the corner. They’d hold.

I tapped them.

Osik. Knocked out my thermal, the bastard.

I shook my head, trying to find my way off the ground--where I’d dropped to when my face began to feel like it was melting. “They’re coming from all directions,” I heard Dogma yell somewhere beside me as my goggles recalibrated.

“We don’t have any cover!” Fives screamed.

We were loosing too many men and far too quickly. Screw what Krell ordered. I holstered my pistols and drew my lightsaber as I stood, the blade igniting brilliantly in the misty darkness of Umbara. “Sooran ni’jagyc, Krell,” I grumbled as I began deflecting the incoming bolts to protect my friends. “I’m your new cover,” I called to the men. “But we need to fall back!”

Rex nodded, falling in behind me as I blocked the shots I could. “Get them to follow us. If we can draw them out, we can see them. If we can see them, we can hit them!” He raised his voice louder to be heard over the battle. “All squads, fall back now!”

We raced back down the road in the direction we came, our AT-RT exploding when it hit a mine. I deflected the shots while trying to keep up with the men, the Umbarans closing quickly. As we ran back, some of our other squads came racing in to help. Thank the stars...maybe Krell found some sense when he saw how stupid an idea this was.

Taking up a position further back to meet up with the other squad, I took the front like Krell should have been doing. I wasn’t a Jedi, and I certainly was no Skywalker….but I was better than the general we had now. So I’d protect the men as best as I could.

“Stand fast,” I heard Rex say to his men behind me. “Hit ‘em with everything you’ve got!” With the added power of the new squad and the AT-RTs, we were able to push the Umbarans back. Of course, we still hadn’t gained any ground.

“Where you going?” Hardcase yelled after the retreating enemy, sending bolts into the mist after them. “Get back here!” They fell back, the battle falling silent for the moment.

I glanced over when I felt Krell’s approaching presence. He was pissed. I put my lightsaber away quickly, tucking it into my pouch. “CT-7567,” Krell growled as he shoved past Fives. “Do you have a malfunction in your design? You pulled your forces back from taking the capital city! The enemy now has control of this route. This entire operation has been compromised because of your failure!” He shoved his meaty fingers into Rex’s pauldron aggressively, the clone stumbling backwards slightly.

“General Krell,” Fives cut in before I could shoot the Jedi on impulse. “In case you haven’t noticed, Captain Rex just saved this platoon. Surely you won’t fail to recognize that.” Fives’ tone was...disrespectful. Even I’d admit that.

“ARC-5555,” Krell practically growled, standing over the trooper ominously. “Stand down.” His green saber ignited beside Fives’ head, immediately prodding me to step forward. A hand caught me, making me turn to see Jesse. He didn’t look at me, but his hand didn’t release my wrist to ensure I stayed beside him.

It was for the best. It’s not wise to tempt someone who clearly wants blood.

“Sir, yes, sir,” Fives said back, his words tight. He stepped away immediately to keep himself from saying something that’d actually get him killed.

“Sir,” Rex continued, earning the general’s glare again. “If I may address your accusation. I followed your orders, even in the face of a plan that was, in my opinion, severely flawed.” The anger was billowing in him now, too. “A plan that cost us men. Not clones!” He ripped off his helmet, showing the Besalisk his face. “Men!” 

Krell said nothing, but looked over the clone calmly. 

“As sure as it is my duty to remain loyal to your command,” Rex continued, his voice more even now. “I also have another duty.” The captain gestured past the general to us, who were standing in a group watching the dispute. “To protect those men.”

The Jedi was quiet for a moment before his lightsaber disengaged, a small smile coming to his lips. “You have a spark of tenacity, Captain, I’ll give you that. I know that I don’t command like the Jedi you’re used to serving. Certainly not like General Skywalker. But I have my way.” My jaw clenched as I kept myself from saying anything, Jesse’s hand still around my wrist. “It may be difficult, but these are difficult times. And it’s proven effective.”

I glared at the general as he continued. He wasn’t admitting any wrongs. He was lecturing us.

“I suppose your loyalty to your men is to be commended. They seem to admire this. That’s important to an effective commander.” Krell’s gaze cut to me. “Though I don’t understand the loyalty to the Sithling.” I felt the darkness in me rear its ugly head. Jesse’s fingers tightened impossibly around my wrist to keep me in place. Still, the clones seemed to fidget like I did. They didn’t like Krell calling me that any more than I did. 

“All right, Captain Rex,” Krell sighed finally. “Your opinion has been noted. Dismissed.” He walked away, leaving us behind on the destroyed road. 

“I think he almost complimented you,” Fives teased, glancing at our captain.

“Eh,” Rex sighed, looking tired. “It’s hard to tell.”

“Incoming!” The clone’s scream didn’t give us time to prepare for the next attack. The enemy appeared from everywhere, raining hell onto us.

“The Umbarans must’ve regrouped for a counter attack,” Rex surmised calmly, putting his helmet back on and drawing his pistols. I tried to engage my thermal vision, only to curse loudly. I’d forgotten it was broken. “Everyone, we must hold this position!”

“They’re above us,” I called, drawing my rifle and relying on the thermal vision in the scope to start picking off the Umbarans in the trees. We ducked into cover as best we could, the clones still eerily calm.

I suppose that was their training, after all.

“You think General Krell still intends on taking the capital using this strategy?” Fives asked, firing over Rex’s shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Rex admitted, firing his pistols along with us. “I’ll get back to you on that if we survive this battle.”

“When we survive this battle,” I corrected with a grunt, switching my hold on my rifle to better my angle. I took the shot, downing my target easily.

“Right,” Rex muttered. He dipped sideways to dodge a bolt before gunning down his attacker without even looking. “When.” I appreciated the attempt to follow my optimism. It was pointless, though.

Because that was when the Umbaran gunships arrived to rain hell down upon us.

-----------------------------

MANDO’A

Osik-- shit

Sooran ni’jagyc-- suck my dick

------------------------------

Author’s Note:

Who’s been watching the new episodes of Clones Wars? I’m super excited about them, but I’m sad over how much we are missing out on that Filoni had planned but can’t create. 

As always, thank you for reading. Reviews/Likes/Shares are always appreciated and encouraged.

-Ryder

[clonesdeservebetter]

Hi yes I can totally see the normal clones asking the FS! Clones to do force tricks or levitate stuff for them because seeing a FS!Clone is probably a BRAND NEW thing. You got your jedi, and then you got YOUR CLONE BRO WHO CAN LEVITATE SHIT AND USE THE FORCE.

Hey! Sorry it’s taken me so long to get to this, writing ability has been Non-Existent. I totally agree, though! Where there are those that are like “this is weird”, there will always be those who say “Yeah, but also AWESOME”, so have this. Once again, went a bit off-prompt and overboard, but hey, it be like that. Enjoy!

“Should we really be doing this?” Dogma asked, walking just behind his vode as they approached what the 501st was now calling the Training Grounds “I mean, the general said--”

“What the general doesn’t know won’t hurt him, Dogma,” Hardcase said nonchalantly, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture “Besides, what we’re doing isn’t necessarily dangerous, we’re just having a bit of fun.”

“Going against orders isn’t exactly my idea of fun...” Dogma muttered, but didn’t protest further as they entered the section of the cargo hold that had been transformed into what was, in essence, a safe place for the troops to practice their abilities. It was mostly empty at that moment, most of them having gone to get rest before they reached Coruscant so they had the most amount of energy to spend during their off time, but there was at least one trooper there.

“Hey Fives!” Hardcase called out, causing Tup, Dogma, and Oz to all flinch, as if the shout could’ve alerted Skywalker and Tano to their presence all the way down in the cargo hold “You got a sec?”

The ARC Trooper turned around, his face one of surprise, then confusion, then that look of happiness that held an almost trickster sort of quality to it. The kind of look he and Hardcase tended to share before shenanigans began.

“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” Tup asked quietly, and Oz sighed.

“Because you have common sense, Tup.” Oz replied, and the group stopped.

“Well, look what the tooka dragged in!” Fives said, walking away from the worktable he had been standing at where... something sat, Dogma wasn’t sure what it was, more than likely a Jedi thing “What brings you to the 501st Temple on this fine day?”

“What, I couldn’t just feel the need to visit a brother and see how his training is coming along?” Hardcase asked in mock offense, and Dogma had to resist rolling his eyes. Fives looked up and down him, appraising the group, and then, completely deadpan:

“You want to see me do cool Force shit, don’t you?”

“Hey! We want to see you do cool Force shit.” Hardcase said, gesturing to the three younger clones. Dogma straightened slightly as Tup and Oz shifted, looking anywhere but the ARC Trooper, who only laughed.

“Can’t promise too much, I’m afraid. Rex is the one that knows how to really use it so far, most I can do is lift things and push other things. Not much else.”

“Yeah, well, the captain actually follows the general’s orders,” Dogma cut in, then adding under his breath “Unlike us, apparently.”

“C’mon, Dogma, live a little! Don’t worry,” Fives walked forward, placing a hand on the younger brother’s shoulder “If I say I was the one who invited you here to show you, I’ll be the one getting in trouble.”

“None of us would be getting in trouble if we weren’t doing this.” 

“Listen, vod,” Tup said gently “If you’re really that worried about it--”

“Then just don’t participate,” Oz finished, crossing his arms “I’m not gonna miss out on this, though. Just think of all the uses it has! Both on and off the battlefield.”

Dogma opened his mouth, but then sighed in resignation, opting to sit on one of the nearby boxes that hadn’t been cleared out of the area yet. Taking that as the go-ahead from the resident Stickler, Fives and Hardcase were instantly in hushed conversation, and Dogma began to look around the place. 

It was obvious that the place used to be a section of the cargo hold, boxes of various supplies scattered about, some used as tables, some smaller ones (like the one he was sitting on) being used as chairs. The lighting that, while not dim, was not bright enough to light up the area “properly”, and it made Dogma have to squint to see in certain areas. There were proper tables and chairs, like the worktable with the strange device on it, but the place itself was rather sparse otherwise. It was quiet, calm, and probably the perfect place to practice using the Force in secret. 

Secret. That was the biggest thing that irked Dogma about this. Not the fact that they were clones training to be, well, not Jedi, but definitely something more than what Kamino had planned, not the fact that there were so few, yet so many at the same time, but the fact that it had to be kept a secret. Dogma didn’t do secrets well. Really, nobody in the 501st did, but the only person probably worse than Dogma was Fives, and even then, he had been able to keep his abilities a secret for so long, how long would it be before Dogma opened his trap and said the wrong thing?

Whatever was in charge of the Force should’ve kept its hands to itself, instead of spreading over his vode. Everything was so much more complicated than before, and it ate Dogma up. That, and how relaxed so many of them seemed to be with it. 

He particularly mused on that thought as he watched Fives balance several boxes on top of each other by their edges, the tower teetering dangerously as Oz, Tup, and Hardcase watched, completely enraptured by the performance. Dogma couldn’t help but feel many things at once: worry, frustration, resignation, and, somewhere in his gut, he felt the tight coil of jealousy in his system. 

‘The least the damn Force could’ve done was given it to all of us.’ He thought bitterly as the tower was dismantled, the boxes now just spinning idly just off the ground. He watched as Hardcase climbed on top of one, unsteady but eager, and let out an excited laugh as Fives made it fly around the room. Hardcase gripped the box for dear life, and, despite the image that made Dogma’s anxiety spike so bad he was worried he would have to go see Kix for it, both Tup and Oz did the same.

He watched the three fly around the room, far from graceful, laughing and screeching like they were cadets in the flight simulators for the first time. His eyes drifted to Fives, who, although he seemed at ease, was obviously in deep concentration, the effort of his actions causing him to scrunch his brow and breathe deep. 

Dogma felt something twinge inside him, like a spark trying to light a fire, but to avail (an old memory, swept up in the wind). He pushed the feeling aside, and looked back up at his vode having the absolute times of their lives. 

“C’mon Dogma, live a little!” The words echoed in the back of his mind, and Dogma sighed. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. Fives must’ve sense Dogma’s change in attitude, because he saw a smirk appear on the ARC Trooper’s face, and Dogma yelped as the box underneath him jolted upward slightly, causing Dogma to shift his position so that he was holding onto it, his knees tucked underneath him.

Dogma couldn’t help it as he began to move around, he laughed, breathless. Hardcase said something to him, but Dogma couldn’t hear it over the blood rushing in his ears.

Maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

(Later, Kix would deny having seen any of them for box-flying related injuries, but they were all barred from the cargo hold for a week afterwards anyways.)

((“Worth it.” Hardcase said.))

(((”I hate you.” Dogma replied.)))

[stellecraftwrites]

Undercover Consequences

Cody watched as Rex and Fox played holo-chess. Both vode were helpless at it but it was something to do that wasn’t talking about the war. It was rare that the 501st and the 212th were on Coruscant at the same time. Cody half suspected that Fox might have something to do with. The Coruscant Guard had specifically requested Generals Skywalker and Kenobi to help them on a mission in the coming week and the two Generals had arrived early to give their men some time off. Cody regretted telling Fox about the relationship he and Rex had with General Kenobi, Obi-Wan.  Cody tried not to smile at the thought of the man.

“No fair you cheated.” Cody drew his attention back to the game to see Fox pushing himself up to a standing position.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have been so focused on your latest conquest and instead paid attention to the game. I did notice your suspicious absence from the officer barracks last night. Tell me was it a vod or some girl you picked up in the bar?” Rex was pressing himself up as well. Cody rested a hand on Rex’s shoulder and the man quieted. Fox was tugging at the collar of his blacks slightly. Cody could see the bite mark shaped bruises hiding just under the collar.

“Had a dance with Wolffe and the 104th did we Fox?” Cody knew those marks. He had a fair share of them in the past when he and Wolffe had a benefits arrangement going on. Wolffe and his entire group of degenerates had a thing about biting. Cody hadn’t minded, and he suspected Fox hadn’t either.

“And if I did?”

“I just didn’t take you to be that kinky. The wolf pack doesn’t do individual encounters.” Rex chuckled slightly.

“Have I told you about that time Fox and I worked our way through two entire squads at the same time back on Kamino? He’s as kinky as them come.” Rex had known Fox before he had met Cody. Occasionally they still hooked up mostly as stress relief when Cody and Obi-Wan were off planet. Cody settled back on the couch, smiling slightly as Rex and Fox bantered about their conquests back in the day. When the official comm on Fox’s desk flashed he excused himself to deal with it. Rex sauntered over and settled on Cody’s lap.

“What do you say we defile this couch while Fox deals with official business.” Cody wormed his hands down the back of Rex’s blacks, squeezing the firm ass he found there.

“He’d probably ask to join us if he comes back in before we finished. He’s like that.”

“Or we could put on a show for him riduur.” Cody pulled Rex into a kiss as the door to Fox’s study swooshed open. Cody pulled away when he saw the look of panic that was on Fox’s face. Rex twisted to see what had made Cody stop and slid himself off Cody’s lap.

“Fox…”

“There’s been an accident.” Fox settled his face into a more neutral expression but they both could still see the panic under his face. He seemed to be composing his thoughts and opened his mouth a few times before he snapped it closed.

“Fox out with it.” Cody’s hands were fisted into balls. Rex looked about ready to jump into full armor and run out to try to help.

“Commander, Captain… I regret to inform you that General Kenobi has been shot. My officers who reported to the scene tell me he was out on a walk with Commander Tano and General Skywalker when they encountered a sniper. General Skywalker and Commander Tano made it out without a scratch.”

“Where is he Fox? Did they take him to the halls?” Cody stood up and rested a hand on Rex’s shoulder. Fox would have led with that if something wasn’t horribly wrong. Fox took a moment to collect himself before he shook his head.

“He was pronounced dead at the scene. My officers told me he had passed before they had arrived.”

“No…” Rex’s knees buckled, and Cody reached out to catch him. He was in a haze as he supported Rex.

“Fox the sniper…”

“He got away. General Skywalker tried to follow him while Commander Tano stayed behind to tend to General Kenobi.” Rex made a slight hiccupping noise and slipped from Cody’s grasp as Cody’s hands went loose. The man who had killed Obi-Wan had gotten away. He didn’t even hear the condolences Fox was offering them nor did he notice when they were bundled into a speeder by Fox and his men and brought back to their barracks. It was Fox’s men who saw them to their room while Fox explained what happened to their men.

  Cody stalked after General Skywalker. They hadn’t been invited to the entombment ceremony but that hadn’t stopped him from lurking outside the temple until General Skywalker exited followed by Ahsoka. The 212th had been put on indefinite leave while they waited for a new general to take command.

Rex hadn’t taken the news well. He was currently in the barracks under the care of Kix and Helix. The 501st was rallying around their commander and their vod in the 212th. It was no secret among the troopers how much Rex and Cody had cared about their fallen general. Rex hadn’t spoken since Fox had given them the news.

“General Skywalker…” General Skywalker spun around, and Cody stopped short to avoid running into the other man. Ahsoka stopped slightly to the side.

“What do you want CC-2224?” Cody grimaced at his number and stood at attention before the General, staring him down.

“You’re going after Roko Hardeen aren’t you? I want in.”

“You are on leave Commander.”

“Sir, General Kenobi, Obi-Wan was important to me. I was to see his killer taken down as much as you do.”

“We aren’t going to kill him.” Cody noticed General Skywalker’s clenched fist. “No, they want us to take him alive.” Cody could practically feel the hatred rolling off the words.

“Then Sir I should come with you.”

“The Coruscant guard should be up to the task. Commander Fox is coming with us personally.” With that General Skywalker turned around and stalked off. A hand on his arm stopped Cody from following him.

“Cody we’ll get him I promise. He’ll be locked up for what he did to Obi-Wan.” Cody shook off Ahsoka’s hand and stomped off in the direction of 79’s. Wolffe’s pack should be there enjoying their shore leave. Wolffe would know what to do. Wolffe would take care of him.

  Rex felt hopeless. Cody had run off a few weeks previously. He wasn’t AWOL, the 212th and the 501st had their down time extended indefinitely while the Jedi Council figured out what to do about Obi-Wan’s death. Members of the 212th and the 501st had taken turns sitting with Rex. Some had gone to 79’s to keep an eye on Cody and had returned with the news that the 104th had taken Cody in. Kix, Helix, and the 104th medic Paws had taken turns checking on Cody while he was there. Rex couldn’t bring himself to leave the barracks just yet.

A noise in the main room of the barracks made him stir from his position against Fives, Echo, and Tup. There was shouting and the sound of wood splintering. It was Loudmouth who ran in looking like he had seen a ghost.

“Sir there’s a situation that requires your attention.” When Fives stood up Loudmouth shook his head. “Fives I know you’re acting captain while Rex is indisposed but this is really a thing he needs to deal with.”

“He’s in no condition to.” Fives moved in front of his Captain and went to open the door to the small room. He didn’t even make it before the door was kicked open. Helix stood there with murder in his eyes. Everyone focused on the figure he was holding by his ear. Obi-Wan’s face was sheepish and he didn’t fight the hold Helix had on him.

  Cody woke up to Wolffe shaking him. He glared up at the man. His body was sore in the best way. He had let the Wolf Pack thoroughly use him the last few weeks. He had stayed at the 79’s with the pack after that first night. Rex had been to hard to bear. He had been completely broken by the death of Obi-Wan. Helix had checked in on him a few times and consulted with Paws about the best care for their wayward commander, but they had ultimately decided just to let Cody grieve in his own way. Paws had kept a close eye on Cody during the time he had spent with the pack.

“Going to fuck me again Wolffe. I think there are a few spots of skin that you and your pack haven’t bruised up.”

“Kote…” Cody tried to ignore the Madalorian version of his name. Wolffe and his men had taken to calling him that version of his name in an attempt to comfort him. He didn’t deserve a name after he let his General die. Part of him, the rational part, reminded him that he couldn’t be everywhere with his General and that Coruscant was supposedly safe. He had screamed at Fox about that a few nights ago when the man had come by to check on him. Cody rolled over and presented his ass to Wolffe, spreading his cheeks wide so that Wolffe could get a look at his well used hole.

“Come one Wolffe you know you want to.” Instead a blanket was draped over his body. Wolffe’s hands pulled him upright and settled him on the couch next to where he’d been lying.

“Kote he’s alive. They faked his death to put him undercover. Roko Hardeen, the one they arrested, he was General Kenobi in disguise.” Cody tried to push Wolffe away, but the other man held him firm. Cody fought the hands that pulled him up and into a tight hug. “He’s alive Kot’ika.” Cody let out a sob. He felt Wolffe nod slightly and felt the sharp sting of needle in his neck. Wolffe held him the entire time he was fighting the drug. A second needle stung his neck and the world went hazy.

“I didn’t expect him to need two doses.”

“He’s been running on adrenaline and endorphins for the last few weeks.” Wolffe’s voice was quiet in his ear. “Will you get him back to the 212th Kix?”

“Of course.”

  Obi-Wan watched from his position on the bed where he was holding a sleeping Rex as Kix and a squad of The Coruscant guard guided the hover stretcher in from the main barracks. Cody was on the stretcher’s platform, tied down and looking like he had been chewed and spat out. His neck was covered in bruises and the wrists were marked with finger lengths.

“Do I want to know where you found him?” Obi-Wan’s voice was quiet so as not to wake the sleeping man in his lap. Kix gestured for the guard to be dismissed. They walked back in through the main barracks trading hand clasps and slaps on the shoulders with clones. Fox stood by the main door looking as pissed of as he had been when Obi-Wan had first walked into his office that morning. His body language told Obi-Wan that they were going to have some serious discussions about using the guard when he finally untangled himself from Cody and Rex.

“79’s Sir. He’s spent the last few weeks with the wolf pack.”

“That would explain the bruising. I know of that group’s proclivities, but I never thought I’d see them first hand or to this extent.”

“If I may Sir. I think Cody went to them because of their proclivities. I know of a few times Cody’s gone to them and Rex has gone as well Sir.”

“When they lose troopers. I know Kix.” He shifted slightly so he could move Rex off his lap. He helped Kix gently unload Cody using the force and settle him next to Rex. Getting up he headed to the door of the small room. Helix blocked his path.

“Sir.”

“I have to report to the Jedi council. I went straight to Fox when I got off the transport.”

“And if they wake up while you’re gone?” Obi-Wan glanced at the two figures in the bed. Taking off his cloak he draped it over them.

“Then I will reach out and reassure them. Even the forceless can feel the force when it is directed at them. They will know I am alive and well.”

  Rex woke to the weight of an arm around him. Obi-Wan’s scent was all around them, not stale like it had been for two weeks. Behind him he could feel Cody stirring. Gently he dislodged himself from the other man and sat up expecting to see their Jedi deep in meditation in a corner. When a first scan of the room didn’t show anything he looked again. Nothing besides the cloak draped over them showed that the General was anything but a figment of their imagination.

Rex felt a warm hand settle on his shoulder. When he looked nothing was there. There was a brief moment of fingers brushing through the hair he had let grow in the weeks of Obi-Wan’s absence before the hand cupped his cheek. The thumb stroked his cheek like Obi-Wan would do when nobody was looking. He leaned into the hand with a small smile.

“Rest my love.” Obi-Wan’s voice echoed soothingly in his head. “I had hoped to be back before you and Cody woke. I had to report to the Jedi Council about the mission.” Rex nodded slightly and looked back at Cody. He looked exhausted. He remembered after the initial shock of Obi-Wan’s appearance in the door to his room that Kix had said he was going to collect Cody and would drug him if necessary. Rex brushed over a few of the deep bite marks on Cody’s shoulders. One was settled right over the scar that Wolffe had left after one particularly violent hookup. Rex carried a matching bite mark, a clear indication to anyone who knew what it meant that if they messed with him they would face Wolffe.

“I had seen the evidence on you two before but while its been fading. It was a bit of a shock to see it fresh.” Obi-Wan’s force hand covered his over the bit mark and Rex could feel a surge of protectiveness flair through him through Obi-Wan.

“You know that its nothing we didn’t want.” Rex spoke quietly so as not to wake Cody. The drugs might still be in effect and Cody wouldn’t stir but he didn’t want to interrupt what looked like Cody’s first deep sleep in weeks.

“And that is the only reason I haven’t broken his jaw for what he’s done to you.” Obi-Wan’s voice contained a chuckle. “That and I believe that Plo would have words for me about injuring his Commander.”

“He would.” Rex stood and stretched. He had a fresher in his room but he felt the need to be around his men. The communal fresher was only a few steps from his room, attached to the main barracks where his men slept. Obi-Wan seemed to read his mind.

“I will watch over him. Go.” Rex gathered his bathing kit and wondered out into the main barracks. Entering the communal fresher, he saw Echo and Fives. Nodding to them he wondered over to the shower head between the two of them. It was Echo wo reached out and pulled Rex in close, under the spray of his own showerhead. Fives stepped up behind the two of them and soaped up Rex’s back. He massaged Rex’s ass and Rex relaxed into Echo’s grip, resting his head on the other man’s shoulder. Letting the warm water run over his back Rex let himself get lost in Fives’ ministrations. Obi-Wan was alive. That thought set a fire alight in his belly. He hadn’t told them he was leaving, there would be words about that, but Obi-Wan hadn’t left them to be under some other general.

When Fives’ hand reached around front to soap up Rex’s front Rex leaned back into the man. It was Echo’s hand that came down to circle his dick. Rex rutted into the hand holding him and let his head fall back onto Fives’ shoulder. Fives’ pressed a kiss to the rough stubble that had grown on Rex’s face. Rex kept rutting against Echo’s hand, moaning quietly as his troopers took care of him. When Echo pressed his face into Rex’s shoulder Rex brought his hands to rest against Echo’s hips pulling him in. He deftly slotted them together. Echo’s hips stuttered slightly, and he brought both of his hands to rest on Fives’ hips behind Rex. The three of them rocked together moaning quietly at the stimulation.

Rex went lax with Obi-Wan’s name on his lips when he came. He felt Echo and Fives finish as well and let them guide him to a small bench. Echo’s steadier hands lathered up his face and shaved the stubble off. A quick kiss to Rex’s forehead and the two troopers were off to finish their routines. Rex wrapped the towel around his hips and wondered off back to his room, sharing hand clasps and hugs with his troopers along the way.

  Cody felt fuzzy. Soft hands were resting on his brow. None of the wolf pack was ever that soft with him. Wolf Pack. Wolffe. Wolffe telling him Obi-Wan was alive. Kix giving him the sedatives. He shot upright, dislodging the hand on brow. Almost instantly the headache hit again. He groaned and threw up an arm to cover his eyes. The soft hands helped him to lie down again and covered his eyes. The headache vanished. Cody groaned slightly and let the cool hands guide him to lie on his side.

“I am going to court martial Kix.” A small chuckle.

“I don’t think that that’s allowed. He is your medic after all. He has the rights to relieve you of duty if he thinks you’re in need of the rest.” Obi-Wan’s voice was quiet. He seemed almost pensive.

“Where’s Rex?”

“He was in the fresher when I arrived.” Cody pushed away the hands and sat up glaring at Obi-Wan.

“When you arrived?”

“I had come straight here after stopping by Fox to try to locate you and Rex. I needed to go report to the Jedi council. Rex knew where I was when he woke up.”

“You died.”

“It was a vitals suppressor. I was just fine. I was wearing body armor. It absorbed the worst of the shot.” Obi-Wan reached out a hand and rested it on Cody’s. “I honestly didn’t think you and Rex would react so strongly to my death. I regret not telling you before.”

“You could have told us after.”

“I was hidden in the halls and undergoing the transformation into Roko Hardeen. It was not a very pleasant one.” Obi-Wan shuddered slightly. “Nanobots rearranging the bones in my face is not something I want to encounter ever again. From there I had to capture the actual Roko Hardeen so that I could become him.” Cody pulled away from Obi-Wan and started to gather a set of blacks from the closet. Pulling on a pair of pants he hissed as they rubbed against the bites and bruises on his inner thighs. Boost had made it his mission to bite as many places that he could.

“That doesn’t excuse it.” Hand grabbed at him and he lashed out. Obi-Wan caught the blows deftly and pulled him in close by the hips. Leaning forward he pressed a kiss to Cody’s lips. Cody felt himself melt into the kiss. A weight he hadn’t even know he was carrying seemed to lift of his chest.

A slight cough at the door made the two of them move apart. Obi-Wan kept one of Cody’s hands in his as Rex entered smiling slightly. When he came within reach Obi-Wan pulled him in for a kiss. Rex melted into the kiss as well and Obi-Wan pulled him snugly against his body. Cody watched as the two fit against each other. Obi-Wan’s free hand came to tangle in Rex’s slightly longer hair and keep him close. When they broke apart Obi-Wan dropped his arm down to circle Rex’s waist.

“I missed you Rex’ika.”

“I missed you too.” Rex gave Obi-Wan one quick kiss before he pulled away fully and pulled some blacks out of his closet. Getting dressed he smiled. “I should leave you two to reconnect. I’m sure Fives has three weeks of reports for me.” Rex gave Obi-Wan one more smile before he left the room. Cody pulled his hand away from Obi-Wan.

“I should go see what my second has for me as well.”

“Your second, when I saw him at the temple, told me that he had everything under control.” Obi-Wan’s voice was firm. “He told me to keep you here and let you recover.”

“I’m fine.”

“Commander Wolffe said you went through his entire squadron in a week. The bruises all over you seem to show that you did it more than once.”

“Its not like we’re expected to be monogamous.”

“I would never expect that of you and Rex. I know the culture among the troopers. I think it’s a healthy release. No what your second, Wolffe, and frankly me are worried about is your decision to go about this self-destructive behavior.” The door slammed closed and when Cody pushed against it stayed shut.

“And what about Rex’s self-destructive behavior?”

“Rex didn’t end up with extensive injuries from taking half a squadron a night.” Obi-Wan looked practically livid. “I was given the medical reports Kote.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“I will call you whatever I want Kote. The medics patched you up every time. Thankfully Wolffe’s men had enough sense never to run you that hard again. And Fox told me of the number of times that you started fights. He said he had troopers stationed outside of 79’s to keep an eye on you after the third night.”

“And what does it matter to you? Its very obvious that I don’t mean anything to you except as your Clone Commander.”

“Kote I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you or Rex to talk me out of it. I wanted that last happy memory we had in case everything went wrong. I was selfish. I get that. I’ve already had the tongue lashing from Anakin about keeping important people in the dark so spare me it from you too.” Obi-Wan settled on the bed and waved a hand at the door. “If you want to go I understand.” Cody growled and stalked towards the bed. He shoved Obi-Wan down and undid the ties that held his tunics closed. Obi-Wan gripped his hips and pulled him closer.

“Never do anything like that ever again. Rex and I, we can’t lose you.”

“I can’t guarantee it.” Obi-Wan ran his fingers over Cody’s face. “But if there is a next time I promise I will try to let you know. If not before then after.” Cody pulled Obi-Wan in for a kiss and reached blindly for his personal comm unit on the bedside table. He blindly punched in Rex’s number and ignored the comm. Rex would recognize it for what it was and get back here. All Cody wanted to do was feel both of them there with him. Within five minutes the door burst open and he heard the lock engage and the sound of blacks quickly being shucked. Another strong, warm body joined them in the bed. Cody pulled his lips away from Obi-Wan to kiss Rex.

“Kote.” Rex’s hand stroked over his face.

“Rex’ika.” Rex gently dislodged Obi-Wan and settled on top of Cody. Leaning in he kissed Cody and let himself melt into the kiss. They’d been together since they found each other on Kamino. Cody was always home. He felt Obi-Wan’s eyes on them as they kissed. Obi-Wan always felt so grateful for being allowed into their relationship. Pulling away from Cody, Rex looked up to see a naked Obi-Wan gently stroking himself. Reaching out a hand Rex pulled Obi-Wan back into the bed. Obi-Wan settled between the two of them and kissed Cody again, unhurriedly. Cody whined slightly as Obi-Wan settled his weight on some of the bruises and bites, throwing his head back. Obi-Wan chuckled and gripped Cody’s wrists, pressing on the bruises.

“What is it with you clones and machoism and sadism. Neither of you are the first clones I’ve encountered with it.” Rex choked at Obi-Wan’s words. He focused on the scar on Obi-Wan’s shoulder that he had been told was from an animal bite. It had appeared after a joint mission with General Koon and the 104th. Cody seemed to reach the same conclusion that Rex did at the same time. They both narrowed their eyes at Obi-Wan.

“Something you care to share Obi’ika?” Rex traced the scar with a finger and Obi-Wan shuddered.

“I should think it would be very apparent. I would have thought he would have told you about the encounter.” Obi-Wan pressed a small kiss to the matching scar on Cody’s shoulder. “Now how are we doing this?”

“I want you in me.” Cody’s words were quiet, and Rex nearly missed them. “I want to feel how alive you are.”

“Care if Rex joins me.” Cody practically keened at Obi-Wan’s question. Rex chuckled and they rearranged their positions. Rex gently spread Cody’s legs as Obi-Wan grabbed the oil from where it was stored. He watched as Obi-Wan slowly started to prepare Cody before he stopped. Cody whimpered as Obi-Wan removed his finger and shuddered as Obi-Wan rested a gentle hand on his inner thigh.

“Obi’ika?”

“He’s still nice and open from his excursion with the 104th.” Obi-Wan’s eyes darkened and he leaned down to press a kiss to the tip of Cody’s dick. Cody shuddered slightly.

“Please…”

“Biaye ner kar'taylir darasuum.” Rex pressed a kiss to Cody’s temple before lining up with Cody’s entrance and slipping in. He was loose, as to be expected from a few weeks as the wolf pack’s sex toy. Rex nodded at Obi-Wan and Cody tried to push Rex deeper into him. Obi-Wan slowly pressed in as Cody keened, the noise petering out as Obi-Wan bottomed out. Rex closed his eyes and swore quietly in Mando’a. Normally Obi-Wan was the receiver when they did this. It felt so different to have Obi-Wan’s dick squeezed in with his as Cody clenched and shuddered in his arms. Obi-Wan tilted so he could have a good angle and slowly began to thrust. Cody’s scream reverberated through the room and Rex was glad that Fox had ordered sound proofing for every room in the barracks. Right now Cody was theirs.

Rex watched as Obi-Wan found his rhythm then started moving in counterpoint. Cody was shuddering between the two of them unable to make any noise beyond the heavy pants that was his breathing. Rex yelped slightly as something that felt like a hand pressed against his entrance. A finger pressed in and he moaned. Obi-Wan grunted slightly and shifted his angle allowing Rex a bit more space.

“Damnit Obi’ika.” Rex lunged upward as a second finger from the force hand was added and kissed Obi-Wan hard. One of Obi-Wan’s hands left Cody’s Hip and wrapped around the back of his head, deepening the kiss and Rex let the other man Plunder his mouth. He moaned as the fingers found his prostate and rubbed it. His hips stuttered up into Cody and brushed his prostate. Cody yelped and Obi-Wan pulled away from Rex to wrap his arms around Cody.

“Kote, ner kar'taylir darasuum.” Obi-Wan was whispering in Mando’a and Rex spared a thought for where he had learned. The though flew from his head as the force fingers pulled away and were replaced with something larger. Rex moaned and went lax as what was obviously a force copy of Obi-Wan’s dick pressed into him. He could feel Obi-Wan thrusting into Cody and the dick in his ass moved in the same rhythm. He tried not to keen as the angle was adjusted and the force dick hit his prostate. His hips jerked, driving him deeper into Cody. Cody screamed, and his body clenched down.

Obi-Wan watched as Cody completely came apart under him. He came hard enough that his entire body tensed up and his eyes rolled up. He pushed in deep one more time, making sure the replica he had made out of the force for Rex mirrored him, and came hard with a moan of Cody’s name. Rex’s mouth was open in a silent scream as he came as well.

Obi-Wan slowly pulled out and lifted the unconscious Cody off Rex, settling him next to Rex. He wasn’t concerned, it wasn’t uncommon for Cody to white out when he had an orgasm, and used his force to summon some warm, damp clothes from the fresher. Rex was watching him with wide eyes as Obi-Wan cleaned them up and banished the clothes to the laundry shoot.

“How do you feel?” Rex shuddered as he took stock of his body. He felt loose limbed and relaxed. His head was fuzzy and he was blissed out.

“Honestly I think that was the best round of sex I’ve ever had.” Obi-Wan chuckled and rested his head against Cody’s shoulder. Cody was showing signs of waking up and Rex moved closer, resting his head on Cody’s opposite shoulder.

  Wolffe watched as Rex and Cody practically glared at General Windu when he suggested Obi-Wan go undercover again. Beside him General Koon tensed. Wolffe rested a hand on the man’s shoulder.

“Why are those two projecting such a murderous rage towards Mace?”

“Could it have something to do with the last time General Kenobi went undercover?”

“Possibly. I know they two of them were unreachable during his last undercover stint.”

“I thought that was just a chance to let Fives and Boil learn command while in a safer setting.” Wolffe guided his General out of the room before he asked any more questions. Through the comms in his helmet he heard the rapid fire Mando’a that Cody and Rex were spewing towards General Windu. He did not want his General near those two when they did finally explode.

[wolveria]

See You on the Other Side

Fic Excerpt: “See You on the Other Side”

Word Count: 1,710

Relationships: ARC Trooper Fives & Captain Rex

Summary: Having survived the blaster bolt to his chest, Fives thought the worst was over. It wasn’t. No one believes him when he says the clones and Jedi are in danger, and he’s beginning to wonder what was the point to surviving.

Warnings: Panic attacks, mourning, morbid thoughts

Written for @celebrate-the-clone-wars‘s prompt: Evolve and Adapt

Fives slammed his fist into the grey duracrete wall – an action he came to regret immediately.

“Fuck!” he cursed and hissed at once, bringing his bruised knuckles to his mouth as his eyes winced shut from the throbbing pain.

Nice going, idiot.

He couldn’t help it. The frustration had been building ever since General Kenobi had given him the news.

“I’m sorry, Fives,” the copper-haired man had said, regret painfully clear in his blue eyes. “The Chancellor demands you be turned over to the military police. You are to stand trial for conspiring with an enemy of the Republic.”

“But… but,” the ARC trooper had stammered stupidly, desperately looking to his own general. Skywalker remained ominously silent, though the angry curl of his fist spoke volumes.

“What about the mental block? The shield on my mind?” Fives had asked with growing desperation. “If you Jedi can breach it, I know you’ll see what I’ve been trying to tell you!”

“The Council will continue to try, and we will try to hold you as long as possible, but the Senate is quite adamant,” Kenobi had responded uneasily. “I am not sure what more we can do, but I… wanted you to be aware of the situation. And that we shall do our best.”

Fives was fairly sure their best wasn’t good enough, and it was that thought that had festered in his mind long after the Jedi generals had retreated from his makeshift prison. With a frustrated growl, the ARC trooper sat on the edge of the medical bed, cradling his palms against his closed eyes.

“What was the point of all of this?!” he demanded of the empty room. “What was the point of Tup dying! What was the point of me living! When I… when I couldn’t make it mean something…”

The mention of his brother did more to temper his agitation than pointless ranting and raging. He hadn’t had much time to process Tup’s death, and now that he was imprisoned and alone, all he could do was think about his dead brothers.

Hevy, who had stayed behind on Rishi Station to detonate the liquid tabanna in order to protect Kamino and his thousands of brothers.

Hardcase, who had scarified himself in order to blow up the droid control ship above Umbara.

Tup, whose seemingly senseless death had helped expose a deadly conspiracy that would shake the very Republic to its core.

Echo…

There were more. So many more. And what had Fives done? He’d been tricked by the Kaminoans, framed by the Chancellor, and in the end, he couldn’t even give his life to save anyone. Not like a true soldier would.

And Tup… Tup had died for nothing.

Fives became aware that the hands against his face were trembling. There was a hard lump in his throat, and he suddenly felt… cold. The fading anger in his chest was rapidly becoming something else. Something he had only experienced in any sort of definable quantity while he had been on the run.

An overwhelming feeling of dread slammed him in the gut, and he was soon gasping for air. He rose to his feet, feeling the urgency of physical movement. But he had nowhere to go. So he paced across the tall, cramped room, back and forth while he felt his muscles tighten of their own accord.

What’s wrong with me?

The silent question sent a new electrical surge of fear through his body, and he couldn’t get enough air. He needed to get out, but he was trapped. Alone. No one truly believed him, not even Rex.

All of it was for nothing…

The pacing seemed to only be making the tightness in his chest worsen, and his legs were beginning to shake hard enough that he thought he might collapse. Retreating to the bed, he crawled on top of it until he was situated in its exact middle, curling in on himself as he sat with his legs folded and his face cradled in his hands.

Calm down. Need to calm down.

He couldn’t get a grip on his breathing, couldn’t slow his heart, and he definitely couldn’t stifle the fear that sizzled through every nerve in his body. He felt like he was dying, and a choked sob was the best he could do when he began to hyperventilate.

We were designed to withstand any stress, came the ghost of Rex’s voice, addressing Kix as he stood next to Tup’s prone form. Withstand any stress.

I’m defective, Fives thought as he pressed his hands against his head. Defective. That’s why I couldn’t help Tup. That’s why I hesitated when I had my chance. I failed my brothers… I failed the Jedi…

I failed them I failed them I failed them—

The mantra repeated in his head as he shook so violently his teeth chattered. So much so that he never heard the door open. He didn’t hear the footsteps either. But his already-panicked heart leapt in his throat as he felt hands on his shoulders, and he jerked back with a startled cry.

Captain Rex’s concerned face met his wild gaze, and he didn’t release his grip on Fives’ shoulders. Instead, he sat on the bed right beside the panicking ARC trooper, his eyes and hands steady as he spoke.

“You’re okay, Fives. You’re okay. Just breathe.”

Fives could feel his face twist in anguish as he trembled so hard he wondered if he would fall apart. “What’s w-wrong with me?” he asked, pure terror overriding whatever shame he would have felt from the break in his voice.

“Nothing is wrong with you,” Rex replied calmly, as if Fives wasn’t shaking to pieces under his hands. “You’re experiencing some anxiety. That’s all.”

“S-some… anxiety?” he asked through chatting teeth. Some anxiety? This wasn’t a little bit of nervousness. He felt like his world was coming undone. He’d been sliced up, shot up, blown across a room with shrapnel in his hip. And yet… he’d never felt this kind of pure, unadultered terror before. And there was no reason for it. Fives was physically safe, deep within the Jedi Temple.

So why couldn’t he stop shaking?

“You need to focus on my voice. Can you do that?” Rex asked in that low, firm voice of his that would make his men follow him to the ends of the galaxy. It helped Fives calm down, at least a little.

“I can… I can try,” he responded as another tremble rocked his body. “I just… I failed th-them. I failed them…” Fives couldn’t maintain eye contact with the captain, instead retreating within himself as he closed his eyes, his whole body vibrating in distress.

Why was he so cold?

“I… I failed… there was no point… no point…”

Another violent shudder ripped through him, and his jaw tightened so fiercely he thought his teeth would break as they ground together. His spine felt odd, as if it were made of jelly, and he was so sure this was it. This was the moment he would die. At least he would be with his brothers. At least—

Fives shuddered as warm arms wrapped around his shoulders, instantly soothing the harsh panic that was running rampant through his thoughts. The sensation was… comforting. Like he was returning to a place of safety. He knew he would be okay. Nothing could harm him now.

Fives drew in a deep, shuddering breath, and realized he could breathe without any hindrance. The panic was passing. He opened his eyes, catching a glimpse of Rex’s old battered gauntlets pressed across his chest as he embraced him. He wondered if the captain needed this as much as he did. After all, Fives had nearly died in his arms, and the danger wasn’t over yet.

“Better?” Rex finally asked, a slight smile in his voice.

“Better,” he answered truthfully. There was a vast improvement, but already the doubt and uncertain crept at the edges of his mind, waiting for the moment when he would inevitably leave.

“Good,” Rex responded as he finally released the ARC trooper. “You need to rest, Fives.”

He gripped Rex’s wrist before he realized what he was doing, the beginnings of panic causing him to grip harder than intended. But the captain didn’t wince or snatch his hand away. Instead, he fixed him with a calm expression.

“Please,” Fives pleaded, hated how small his voice sounded. “Don’t go. Don’t leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Rex responded. Fives opened his mouth to continue to beg for him to stay… only to shut it again with an audible pop.

“You’re not?” Fives asked faintly.

“I’m staying right here,” Rex responded with a hint of a smile. “That okay with you?”

His mouth felt painfully dry, and his tongue refused to obey him, so Fives simply nodded and released Rex’s wrist. Under normal circumstances, Fives would have felt embarrassed over his outburst, but he knew Rex wouldn’t judge him. Wouldn’t laugh or gossip later. He was a true brother.

Fives laid down and made room for Rex, feeling like a scared shinie again after an especially traumatic battle. He used to crawl into Echo’s bunk, knowing what nightmares would come, and they would huddle together until passing into a dreamless sleep. Having Rex beside him now wasn’t exactly the same, but it was what Fives needed.

“How long can you stay?” Fives really didn’t want to keep Rex from his duties. There was a war still going on after all. A selfish part of him didn’t care.

“As long as you need me to,” the captain replied, knowing full well the Jedi could come in any moment and kick him out. But Rex didn’t seem afraid of the possibility, and maybe he’d worked something out with General Skywalker or Kenobi so that he could stay. Either way, Fives was grateful he wouldn’t have to be alone while his fate was decided by councils and senates.

“Thank you,” Fives whispered, the lump in his throat making his words rougher than usual.

“Whatever happens, we’ll survive this,” Rex responded in a low, gentle voice. “We always do.”

Fives’ eyelids drifted shut, and with the warmth of his brother beside him, he was finally able to rest.

[letitrainathousandflames-archive]

Picking a Side

Rating: Teens and Up

Warnings: Blood, Violence, Drinking, Clone Angst, Rex trying to get Cody to escape order 66 with him

Characters: CT-7567 | Rex, CC-2224 | Cody, ARC-5555 | Fives (mentioned)

Additional Tags: a lot of dialogue, Rex can’t just spill the whole deal because he’s afraid everyone could be a spy, Cody is an honorable soldier, morality divergences, why is this story so sad

The first shades of a shy purple paint the horizon, entering the round-edged square windows of the 99 bar in Coruscant. The place is closed already, at 5:00 am, but a name like Rex’s could get the place just for himself for a couple of hours, so the owner had just left the bar keys with the captain and asked him to close the place when he was done. Rex holds his half-full glass to his eye level, slowly swirling it. The ice cubes clink softly against the glass and the bar door swings open. Rex takes a sip. The raw, burning sensation covers his tongue and he feels like he’s swallowing fire down his throat. It kind of wakes him up from his daze a little, which is good.

“Lock it.” He says out loud, and the men who’d just walked in locks the door to then walk between the tables with chairs piled on them towards Rex; on top of his table there are two bottles and his helmet with jaig eyes painted on it.

“So you really weren’t kidding” the other man says, and his voice sounds a lot like Rex’s, but it’s perhaps a little deeper “Why meet me here? Why not at the barraks? Why not literally anywhere else?”

Rex is back to looking at his drink, placed over the table and held between his fingers.

“Safer. Away from cameras and spies and stars know what else.” he pauses “Sit down, will ya?”

The man looks at Rex for a few instants, then he sinks into the chair across from him as Rex takes another sip, swallowing hard. Damn, the ice did nothing to water down this shit. Still scorches his throat on the way down.  Rex places the glass back on the table and lifts up his eyes to the clone sitting across of him. He wears a commander armor with details painted in orange, and he places his helmet next to Rex’s. The two visors stare back at their users, Rex’s jaig-eyed helmet marked by the many tally marks he’d scratched on it and Cody’s black visor almost entirely covered by the orange piece over it. The other clone, Cody, rubs his temple marked by scars, one of them running over his cheekbone as Rex downs his drink at once.

“It’s still being required for all of us to wear our armors outside here in Coruscant.” Cody, says with a sigh “After all that mess…”

“’Elek.”

The agreement in Mando’ didn’t get Cody’s particular attention. The brothers all would slip some Mando’ in the middle of their Basic as they’d speak betweent themselves. They were raised on both languages, but Mando’ had always felt nicer on their tongues. Mellow and easier to speak. Cody looks up to Rex’s face.

“D’you bring me all the way here to talk about what happened? Are you finally gonna open up?”

Rex runs his finger on the rim of his glass. There was something to Rex, he wasn’t a man that would show himself in words, but in gestures. Each pause, each wordless moment said more to him than a ten-minute conversation would. Right now he thinks. Ponders. Wonders what he can say and how much of it he could say. Then…

“There’s something messed up going on, Cody. Something big, something…”

He trails off, still running his finger over the rim of his empty glass. Cody knits his brows.

“What are you talking about?”

“Can I ask you something?”

Cody doesn’t answer at first; he analyzes. Rex’s small gnawing at his lower lip, the way he increases his pressure around the glass in his hands. Something is eating the 501st Captain from the inside, he can tell, and it’s kriffing weird. Rex doesn’t let whatever’s troubling him show on the outside, ever. Cody was closed off himself too, sure, but Rex… He seemed to be always in peace with himself, despite whatever this war tossed on him. He walked out of goddamn Umbara with his squared shoulders and eyes straight ahead. Whatever is happening now, it has to be bad.

“Sure, Rex. Anything.”

Rex raises his gaze to Cody’s. The purple-ish light of the early morning is reflected on his bloodshot eyes, and for the way Rex is slightly swaying, Cody can guess he’d been drinking a lot. He confirms that when he actually looks at the two bottles next to him, one empty and the other halfway done.

“Do you trust me?”

Cody knits his brows to then snort softly.

“‘course I do, Rex. All those years and you even ask?” Rex nods a few times and Cody sighs “Is this about Fives? I really wish you’d talk to someone about what—“

“This is not about him.” Rex cuts him off abruptly in a harsh tone “I don’t... This is not about him.”

Rex hasn’t said Fives’ name ever since he died. When they cremated his body and destroyed his armor, something done to all dead clones whose bodies the Republic could retrieve, he kept his hand guard. Until then, Cody hadn’t noticed the symbolism. Right hand man. That’s what Fives was to Rex, and despite Jesse’s recent promotion to ARC trooper and his excellent work so far, Rex feels that the spot is still empty. No one could ever replace Fives’ advice, his intelligence and strategic way of thinking, his concern for his brothers, his undying bravery.

Cody sighed again.

“Rex, you asked if I trusted you, now it’s time for me to ask if you trust me.”

“Trust.” Rex pauses, frowning “Trusting has become complicated these days, Cody”.

“What do you mean?”

“I just… I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Cody sees Rex’s hands still holding his glass so hard he doesn’t know how it hasn’t cracked yet.

“I’m sorry for asking again but this is about Fives, isn’t it?”

Rex turns his eyes away from Cody for a moment.

“No.” he hesitates “A little. I…” he inhales deeply “If I were to tell you something… Something about our enemies, something horrifying, would you believe me?”

Cody tenses up, squaring his shoulders.

“I prob’ly would, vod. I don’t think there’s anything about these seppies that would surprise me anymore.”

Rex looks to the locked door as if someone could walk in. The brighter shades of blood red replace the former purplish ones painting the sky in the horizon out of the window by their table.

“I think there’s someone trying to control us.” Rex says, and he hesitates at every word as if he regrets saying each one of them as soon as they leave his lips “All the clones, all of our brothers.”

Cody frowns. He sees the tension in Rex’s face and scratches his chin.

“Who would this someone be? Do you have a lead?”

Rex’s eyes dart back and forth for a moment.

“I don’t know. Someone from the inside.”

“One of us?” Cody snarls “I wouldn’t doubt you, not after Slick.”

“No. Not a clone.” Rex presses his lips together “Someone at a much higher position than any of us.”

“Higher than a commander? Do you mean one of the Republican high commands?”

“Yes.”

Cody tilts his head, tensing up.

“Well, do you have proof?”

Rex blows out a heavy sigh and opens his mouth two times, hesitating before finally saying in a quiet voice:

“I have what… What Fives told me before he died.”

Cody rolls his eyes to then rub his temple, his voice sounding aggressively tired.

“Ah, for the love of—” he slouched on his seat, sighing “Fives was sick, Rex, and so was Tup. They had this virus… and it affected their minds, the Kaminoans doctors said it so, we all read the report. They started seeing enemies everywhere, you see what happened to Tup did to General Tiplar. You can’t trust something that Fives said when he was… Well, in that state.”

Rex narrows his eyes, his tone suddenly very sharp.

“I can trust anything he says. He was the wisest man under my command. He saved my life more times than I can count, he…”

“Was insane, Rex.” Cody says dryly “After he got infected, he was insane. You can’t compare the soldier that devised brilliant strategies in Umbara to the madman that you met in tha warehouse with general Skywalker.”

The glass between Rex’s hands finally cracks in sharp glass splinters that cut through Rex’s gloves. He crushes the larger pieces of glass with his fists and the blood drips from his now soaked gloves on the steel table.

“He knew what he was saying.” he snarls “I trust him, I’ve always trusted him ever since he joined the 501st I knew there was something special about him. I trust him, Cody, and now I’m asking you to trust me.”

Cody put his tongue between his teeth, glancing away from Rex for a moment.

“Why are you so worried?”

Rex opens his bloody hands, pushing the glass shards off the edge of the table with his forearm and shakes his head.

“Havent you heard it when I said that there’s people wanting to control us?”

Cody nodded:

“Let’s say I believe whatever Fives said. Aren’t we under their control already? We are born from their tubes in Kamino, we are bred to fight and die for them, we are of property of the Republic.” Cody absently runs a finger over his scars “I don’t understand what’s your point.”

Rex frowned, running a hand over his head; his blond hair became reddened where his hand touched it.

“What… What if it’s someone form the inside who wants us to turn against our own people? I… I don’t know, turn us to the Separatists’ side? Maybe… Maybe even use us to attack the Senate, or the Jedi?...”

Cody interrupts him with a gesture.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” he says flatly “We have to trust our superiors, Rex, we have a code to honor. If a soldier doesn’t trust his generals, his higher ranks, then what’s left of him?”

“I trusted Kell.”  “It cost me my men, and yours. I hope you haven’t forgot about Waxer, because I sure as kriff haven’t forgotten about Hardcase.”

The fist that Cody suddenly bang against the table makes the bottles on it clink, but Rex doesn’t even flinch. Cody’s voice is low and stained with anger.

“I haven’t. I’m not talking about blindly following orders, but I…” Cody clenches his teeth “Damn, Rex, this is complicated.”

Rex nods, crossing his arms over his chest and sitting back away from the table.

“Ret. It demands us to think for ourselves, and it’s time we start doing that.”

With his fist still on the table, Cody leans in looking Rex in his eyes with a stern expression on his features.

“Look. If there’s something you wanna tell me, just do it now.”

Rex runs his hand over his head and just continues to rub it over, as if he’d be looking for a wound on his skull. He lowers his eyes and his voice drops to no more than a murmur.

“I… There’s something I need to tell you, but I have to know you are 100% with me. I wanna trust my brothers now, Cody. I don’t think I can trust anyone else. Not the Republic,” Cody’s eyes went wide at that “Not even the Jedi, not after what they did to commander Tano.”

Cody squints at Rex, hesitating.

“What do you mean?”

Rex lowers his hand to the back of his neck and then places it over his chin.

“I wanna go off the grid. Away from the Republic’s reach, away from our quarters. I want to… I want to make sure I get to the bottom of it and not end up like Fives.”

Cody’s confused expression turned to a tired, controlled anger.

“Fives was resisting arrest.”

“He found something--”

“He was clinically insane!”

Rex bares his teeth.

“I trust him!” he snaps, supporting himself on his hands placed on the table and getting up from his seat; his breathing is rapid and his face is red, veins popping up where his neck is visible under his blacks, meeting his tensed up jaw. “And if he says something is threatening my brothers, I will turn against whatever this is, and I don’t care if it’s the Republic or even the Jedi, I will protect them!”

Cody gets up too, looking wide-eyed at Rex as he runs a hand over his mouth and chin.

“You care more about your brothers than about your mission?...” he asks, raw anger dripping from his words “Than the Republic?!”

“Yeah.” Rex says as he stares at Cody’s eyes without blinking “You can write that down.” Cody walks to the table’s side but Rex blocks his way “They’re not only my brothers, Cody. They’re yours too.”

There’s scorn in Cody’s voice now too, but it doesn’t overshadow his anger.

“Your imaginary threat doesn’t scare me as much as your paranoia. You should get tested for the virus.”

Rex snarls, pushing him by the chest.

“Why do you have to be like this?! Why can’t you, for once, see that this republic is rotten to the core?! We are slaves, Cody! Bred, born and killed in slavery, and you--”

Cody is taken aback by Rex’s push and licks his lips. The punch he drives to Rex’s face comes so fast the Captain can’t avoid it. He staggers and grunts, feeling the coppery taste of blood in his mouth. Cody grabs him by the neck of his chest piece, pulling Rex closer to him and whispering close to his ear:

“In the name of our friendship… In the name of all we’ve seen… Of all we’ve lived so far…” his breathing is ragged and he swallows hard “I’ll pretend I haven’t heard thess words of high treason. Don’t tell me a single thing about your plans, because when they ask me where the hell has Captain Rex disappeared to, I don’t wanna know anything about this, and I don’t wanna have to lie, and if you really go through with this you better not get caught.”

Rex doesn’t answer. He’s looking at Cody’s helmet placed next to his. He’s remembering each mission they’ve worked together with their generals, the balanced Kenobi and the eager Skywalker, all the bombings and sieges and different planets they’ve been to. It feels like a goddamn lifetime. Cody doesn’t sound only angry, he sounds disgusted:

“Ni'duraa. I think what you’re doing is dishonorable. Shameful. But if you think it’s the right thing to do, Captain, go ahead. Just make sure that when the time comes, what happened with Fox and Fives doesn’t end up happening between me and you.”

He pushes Rex away, and the Captain looks at him wide-eyed. Rex looks devastated, and he half-whispers Cody’s name before he says:

“If you only tried to listen—”

Cody reaches for his helmet to then push Rex off his way with his shoulder.

“I am a soldier of the Republic, Rex. It’s who I am. Whatever you’re looking for, I hope it works for you.” he walks to the door, unlocking it.

“Ret'urcye mhi, vod.” Rex says between clenched teeth with his back still turned to Cody, his fists clenched by his sides.

The mandalorian farewell meant a wish to see the other again. Cody knows that, but he doesn’t know if Rex means he wishes to see him once again or if he wishes Cody to be the one to kill him, should it happen. Not even Rex is sure of what it really meant, and as the reddened skies turn to bright orange, the commander of the 212th pulls the door violently to then leave the bar.

[colehasapen]

(ONE SHOT) ranov'la STAR WARS

Fives hits the ground running, his heart pounding in his ears and the truth of what he had learned weighing heavy on his shoulders. It’s like a collar around his neck, dragging him down like he’s running through a bog.

When he’d first started his desperate investigation into Tup’s mysterious actions and death, he’d never imagined this.

The Chancellor of the Republic is the mastermind behind everything. He was pulling all the strings, and everyone had just been a piece in his game - all the brothers Fives had lost, all the death and suffering, it was all Palpatine. The Chancellor was behind everything. He was the one behind the War, behind their cloning, and behind the chip in their heads that would be used to kill the Jedi if Fives couldn’t get his intel into the right hands. It was all a game, one that had turned into a session of hunt-and-hunted as the Chancellor sends the Coruscant Guards after him.

They’d be aiming to kills, Fives knows, because to them he’s just a single renegade clone who just tried to kill the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. They’ll have been made aware of Fives’ rank as a highly skilled ARC Trooper, and Fives knows enough about their training to know what it will mean - the Guard will be shooting first and asking questions later because fighting an ARC Trooper head on, even one with a CT designation, would easily spell the deaths of them and their brothers if Fives was actually a threat. And that was without considering the possibility that Palpatine hadn’t already activated the chips in the heads of the Vode of the Guard to ensure that Fives would die on Coruscant and no one would listen to the truth.

Force, Fives had really stepped in it this time. Echo must be cursing up a storm in the afterlife over his recklessness. He should have gone to the High Generals first, like General Ti had suggested. He should have left the information with someone he trusted in case of this very situation. He should have turned on his comm and broadcasted the Chancellor’s arrogant confession across every open channel in the GAR.

He should have done a lot of things. It’s the story of his life really.

So Fives runs, and keeps running. He needs to find somewhere to hunker down and plan, and try to ride out whatever drug the damned Longneck had dosed him with. He won’t be able to plan his next move if he can’t stay focused, no one would believe him either if he came up to them drugged out of his kriffing minds and acting erratically. He needs somewhere to rest and recover, and to try to reach out to some trusted brothers who might believe him.

It’s when Fives ducks into an abandoned and rundown warehouse many levels down from the planet’s surface that he realizes that he wouldn’t be able to contact anyone from the 501st. That’s what would be expected of him, and would put his brothers in danger if they were being monitored. To reach out to any of them would mean casting the entire Legion in a suspicious light and would possibly mean bringing the wrong kind of attention onto them. Rex was probably already in interrogation, being his immediate superior, as would Jesse and Kix, being the two living brothers Fives was closest two. He didn’t want to bring more attention to them, but who else did he have?

Commander Blitz? No, he wouldn’t want to hear from him after Fives had plowed through Rancor Battalion, even if he hadn’t killed any of them. He had lost so many in the Battle for Kamino that he took any attack on his men as a person slight, and would hold a vicious grudge, even against one of the ARC Troopers he had trained personally. Besides, he must have already left the planet after dropping Fives off on General Ti’s orders, and would be too far away to help even if he wanted to.

Commander Doom was still mourning the loss of one of his Generals and didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess so soon after General Tiplar’s funeral. He needed to be there for his surviving men and remaining General, and the truth of General Tiplar’s death would put him and the rest of his broken Battalion in danger.

Commander Cody was his best bet. He and the 212th were scheduled for shore leave, and his connection with Fives wasn’t as well known. To the outside eye, Commander Cody was the perfect Marshal Commander, and didn’t have a close bond to anyone in the 3rd System Army to avoid favouritism, though everyone who knew him was well aware of his soft spot for Ghost and Torrent Companies. He worked with enough Commando squads that no one would question it if he disappeared for a few hours without warning, because of his role with SpecOps. Cody could get him in contact with anyone he wanted, he had eyes and ears everywhere, and if anyone could get Fives’ information to the Jedi, it was Commander Cody.

The downside? Fives didn’t know where Cody would be during shore leave. There was a reason why his personal Company was called Ghost, and it wasn’t because they were superstitious - the man could disappear scarily well for a guy in bright orange, and the only people Fives had ever seen actually know how to track him down were General Kenobi and Captain Rex, who seemed to have a sixth - or seventh, in the General’s case - sense dedicated solely to locating Commander Cody at any given time.

A clatter draws Fives out of his plots, and the ARC Trooper goes carefully still, reaching slowly for the closest thing that he could use as a weapon if needed. He curls his fingers around a rusty pipe, and strains his ears, listening for the sound again. There it is, closer this time, and Fives slowly lifts himself to his feet, pushing his body deeper into the shadows offered by the crates he was surrounded by. He stays predator-still, forcing himself past the fuzziness of the drugs in his veins, and keeps himself from shaking through years of intense training and an iron will.

A Trooper in red steps into the large warehouse store room, and Fives almost wants to curse. He knows that paint job - everyone does.

It’s Commander Fox himself.

Fives tightens his hold on the pipe, wishing that he hadn’t ditched his stolen blaster. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, to lessen his threat level, but if the Chancellor had activated the Guards’ chips, then they’d shoot whether he was armed or not. At least Fox seemed to be alone. Even drugged as he is, Fives thinks he could hold his own against the Commander, as long as he could catch the older clone by surprise.

Commander Fox prowls through the room, helmet swinging as he searches and Fives forces himself to calm down. He forces himself to slow his breathing, and even his heart rate as he wills himself to blend into the shadows, horribly glad that he had ditched the white plastoid armour about three levels up.

“Building’s clear.” He hears Commander Fox reporting, “Moving on to the next grid.” Fives releases a slow breath, eyes on Fox’s back where he stands mere meters away from where the ARC hides-

-and then, because Fives has the worst possible luck in the history of terrible luck, he sways, vision graying out for the shortest of moments. The pipe in his hands impacts the nearest crate with a dull ringing sound, and the noise kriffing echoes in the empty warehouse.

Commander Fox stiffens, and Fives watches in slow motion as he begins to turn. He panics. Next thing Fives knows, he’s crossing the short distance between them in a rush, lifting the pipe as he goes. Fox is nearly facing him, and Fives swings, catching the Guard Commander in the side of the helmet with enough force to crack the old metal.

Commander Fox crumbles, bucket dented, and he doesn’t get back up. Fives wheezes, adrenaline shaking his limbs more forcefully than even the drugs managed to, and he stares at the limp Commander in shock.

“Well, shit.” He says softly, but with a lot of feeling behind it. “Damn.” The pipe clatters when he drops it, and Fives kneels beside him to carefully pull the helmet off. Commander Fox’s temple is already swelling, bruises already beginning to darken the skin, and part of his forehead had actually split open under the force of the blow and was bleeding sluggishly. Fives winces, pressing his sleeve to the wound to stem the flow, “I’m so dead when you wake up, aren’t I?” He asks the unconscious Trooper.

He should go - he should move on, but Fives doesn’t want to leave the Commander here where anyone can come across him. Doing so could very well be signing a brother’s KIA report if the wrong sort finds him.

“I’m so kriffed.” Fives mourns, staring at the limp CC. There goes any chance to hunt down Commander Cody -

Wait.

His eyes pause on the comm around Fox’s wrist, sucking in a shocked breath. His heart flutters in excitement, and Fives reaches forward to pry off the Commander’s vambrace. “Fives you mad genius.” He says into the silence. A few crossed wires should do the trick to cut off any chance of the comm being tracked - Crys had taught him all about it during a mission with the Ghosts behind enemy lines. Commander Fox would have Cody’s frequency; Fives had seen it himself that all the Commanders had person lines to each other to stay in contact when they could.

This was perfect - a chance coincident that he had never expected to fall into his lap. All it had taken was bludgeoning a Marshal Commander over the head, and - well, fuck it - Fives was already wanted for treason, may as well add assault of a Superior officer to the list. What was a little bit of near-murder between friends saving the Galaxy?

In his hands, the comm beeps as it connects, and Fives almost cries with relief when Commander Cody answers.

“This better be important, Fox.”